应该 (應該 in traditional form – yīnggāi) is a word that expresses obligation or expectation, and its structure hints at its meaning of “should” or “ought to.”

Here’s a breakdown of its components:

• 应 (應 in traditional form – yìng): As we discussed earlier, this character conveys the idea of responding or corresponding. It suggests a necessary or appropriate action in response to something.
  • 广 (guǎng): This component originally depicted a house or building. It often appears in characters related to shelters, locations, or things under a roof. Think of it as setting a scene or context.
  • 𠂇 (yīng): This component is more obscure, and its original meaning is debated. However, one prominent interpretation suggests it depicted a person making a sound or calling out. Imagine someone trying to get someone else’s attention.
  • Putting these two together, 应 could be visualized as someone inside a house “responding” to a call from outside. This sense of interaction and reaction is at the heart of its various meanings:
• 该 (gāi): This character, as we also explored before, means “should” or “ought to,” indicating a duty or obligation.
  • 言 (yán): This radical represents “speech” or “words.” It’s a common component in characters related to communication, language, or expressions. This suggests that 该 has something to do with communicating or stating something.
  • 亥 (hài): This component originally depicted a piglet or a small pig. While it seems unrelated to the meaning of “should,” in this context, it’s believed to function primarily as a phonetic component, providing a sound hint similar to the word for “ought” (gāi).

Combining these elements, 应该 reinforces the sense of obligation and appropriateness. It implies that something is the right or necessary thing to do in response to a situation or expectation.

The word 应该 is used in various contexts to express obligation, expectation, and appropriateness:

• 你应该早点睡觉。(Nǐ yīnggāi zǎodiǎn shuìjiào.) – You should go to bed early.
• 我们应该帮助别人。(Wǒmen yīnggāi bāngzhù biérén.) – We should help others.
• 他应该已经到了。(Tā yīnggāi yǐjīng dào le.) – He should have arrived already.

The combination of 应 and 该 in 应该 creates a stronger sense of obligation than either character alone. It emphasizes the appropriateness or correctness of an action, highlighting the social and moral expectations associated with fulfilling one’s duties and responsibilities.

Questions

What does 应该 (yīnggāi) mean?
a) Maybe
b) Should, ought to
c) Definitely not
d) Can, be able to

Which components make up the word 应该 (yīnggāi)?
a) 应 (yìng) and 该 (gāi)
b) 应 (yìng) and 当 (dāng)
c) 可 (kě) and 能 (néng)
d) 必 (bì) and 须 (xū)

What is the primary function of 应该 (yīnggāi) in a sentence?
a) To express a possibility
b) To indicate a suggestion
c) To express an obligation or expectation
d) To show disagreement

Which sentence correctly uses 应该 (yīnggāi)?
a) 你应该早点睡觉。(Nǐ yīnggāi zǎodiǎn shuìjiào.) – You should go to bed early.
b) 我应该去哪里？(Wǒ yīnggāi qù nǎlǐ?) – Where should I go?
c) 我们应该互相帮助。(Wǒmen yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngzhù.) – We should help each other.
d) All of the above.

Which of the following is closest in meaning to 应该 (yīnggāi)?
a) 必须 (bìxū) – must
b) 可能 (kěnéng) – maybe
c) 愿意 (yuànyì) – be willing to
d) 知道 (zhīdào) – to know

Which character in 应该 (yīnggāi) also appears in the word “反应” (fǎnyìng)?
a) 应 (yìng)
b) 该 (gāi)
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b

What does the component 应 (yìng) imply in the context of 应该 (yīnggāi)?
a) A refusal or denial
b) A necessary or appropriate response
c) A lack of obligation
d) A past action

How does 应该 (yīnggāi) differ from 必须 (bìxū), which also means “must”?
a) 应该 (yīnggāi) is stronger and more forceful than 必须 (bìxū).
b) 应该 (yīnggāi) implies a stronger sense of moral obligation.
c) 必须 (bìxū) is more formal and often used in written language.
d) 应该 (yīnggāi) suggests a greater degree of choice or flexibility.

Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 应该 (yīnggāi)?
a) 应该做 (yīnggāi zuò) – should do
b) 应该去 (yīnggāi qù) – should go
c) 应该说 (yīnggāi shuō) – should say
d) 应该买 (yīnggāi mǎi) – should buy

In the sentence “你应该多喝水” (Nǐ yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ – You should drink more water), what does 应该 express?
a) A strong command
b) A friendly suggestion or advice
c) A prohibition
d) A question