V た-form / V ない-form + ほうが いいです (V-ta / V-nai hou ga ii desu) — You had better (not) do it
The pattern for giving someone firm advice — "you really should do this".
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
Meaning
- ほう literally means "that side", so the sentence compares two roads and picks one.
- This is advice, not an invitation.
How to attach
- For something the person should do, use the た form: 飲む → 飲んだ ほうが いいです.
- For something they should not do, use the ない form: 行く → 行かない ほうが いいです.
Watch out
- In the negative it is ない, never なかった — that is the most common mistake.
- It can land strongly, like "if you do not, things will go wrong", so said straight to a boss or an elder it sounds a bit blunt.
- Adding 〜よ or 〜と 思いますよ softens it.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
薬を 飲んだ ほうが いいです。
くすりを のんだ ほうが いいです。
You had better take the medicine.
毎日 運動した ほうが いいですよ。
まいにち うんどうした ほうが いいですよ。
You had better exercise every day, you know.
今日は 出かけない ほうが いいです。
きょうは でかけない ほうが いいです。
You had better not go out today.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Using 「飲む」, how do you say "you had better take the medicine"?
💡 Hint: For something you should do, it needs the た form.
The た form of 飲む is 飲んだ. The dictionary form or the て form does not work here.
Which correctly says "you had better not go today"?
💡 Hint: The negative is not なかった.
The negative keeps the ない form: 行かない ほうが いいです.
Which sentence gives firm advice — "you really should, or things will go wrong"?
💡 Hint: Which pattern compares two roads and picks one?
ほうが いいです gives firm advice — "this road is the better one". ましょう and ませんか are invitations, and て ください is a request or an instruction, not advice. Because it is firm, said straight to someone senior it sounds blunt.
Your score: /3