GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜べきではない
Presents an action as something to avoid on moral or reasonable grounds.
Examples
誰でも間違えるのだから他人の失敗を笑うべきではない。
Everyone makes mistakes, so you should not laugh at someone else's failure.
Words used
相手の事情を知らずに決めつけるべきではない。
You should not jump to conclusions without knowing the other person's circumstances.
Words used
一度の失敗で挑戦を諦めるべきではない。
You should not give up on a challenge after a single failure.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
べきではないto a dictionary-form verb to identify an action that should be avoided on moral or reasonable grounds. - Basic usage:
一度の失敗で挑戦を諦めるべきではない。judges giving up after one failure to be inappropriate.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Should not versus need not
話すべきではないjudges that speaking should be avoided.話さなくてもよいpermits not speaking, so it differs from negatively evaluating the act of speaking.