〜べし (~beshi) — must / should (classical)

The old root of 「べきだ」— in slogans, proverbs, headlines and posters.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

V辞書形 + べし

する → すべし／するべし

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

Look at a poster on a factory wall: 「作業前には、必ず安全確認を行うべし」— 'Before starting work, always carry out the safety check.'
These days magazines and the internet also use it as a playful 'you have to go!' (この店は一度行くべし！).
Don't use it when speaking to a boss or a customer — it sounds bossy and old-fashioned.

Meaning

「べし」= 'must / should' — the old root of the 「べきだ」you learned at N3.

How to attach

To attach: dictionary form + 「べし」(備えるべし); する becomes 「すべし」or 「するべし」.

Versus what you know

The difference: 「べきだ」is normal modern language, while 「べし」survives only in proverbs, slogans, headlines and old-style rules — short, stiff, like an order.

Watch out

The key rule: 「べし」only ends a sentence — no 「だ」or 「です」after it, and before a noun you need 「べき」(守るべきルール).

Also

The friends you met earlier were all born from this 「べし」: 「べき」(before a noun), 「べく」(purpose), 「べからず」(prohibition), 「べくもない」(no way) and this lesson's 「べくして」— remember them as one family and the meanings open up by themselves.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

非常時に備え、水と食料は三日分用意すべし。

ひじょうじにそなえ、みずとしょくりょうはみっかぶんよういすべし。

Be prepared for emergencies: keep three days' worth of water and food.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 非常時に備え = to be ready for emergencies → 用意する = to prepare → it's a する verb, so 「すべし」 → a slogan on an earthquake-prep leaflet: short and strict.

作業前には、必ず安全確認を行うべし。

さぎょうまえには、かならずあんぜんかくにんをおこなうべし。

Before starting work, always carry out a safety check.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 作業前 = before starting work → 安全確認を行う = to carry out a safety check → attach 「べし」 straight to the dictionary form → a rule posted on the factory wall.

京都を訪れるなら、この店には一度行くべし。

きょうとをおとずれるなら、このみせにはいちどいくべし。

If you visit Kyoto, this shop is a must — go at least once.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 訪れる = to visit → 一度行く = to go once → 「べし」 → a travel magazine's playful push: "you must go!" (a recommendation, not an order).

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「書類の提出期限は厳守＿＿。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: It is built from the dictionary form of する.