Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering べきではない: Expressing What Should Not Be Done in Japanese (JLPT N3 Grammar)

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expresses that an action should not be done, or it is wrong/inappropriate to do it.

🎯 Primary Function

To strongly advise against doing something, express a personal conviction that an action is wrong, or criticize someone’s actions.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb dictionary form + べきではない / べきじゃない する -> すべきではない / するべきではない 来る -> 来るべきではない

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal contexts, especially in written form or when giving serious advice or criticism. However, it can sound direct.

😊 Informal Situations

Often shortened to べきじゃない (beki janai). Used among friends or family to express strong advice or disapproval.

✍️ Written Language

Commonly used in essays, reports, articles, and official statements to express strong opinions or recommendations against actions.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used to give strong advice, express a firm opinion, or criticize someone’s behavior, often with an earnest or serious tone.

💡 Common Applications

Giving strong advice
Used to tell someone strongly that they should not do something for their own good or because it is wrong.
Example: 夜遅くまで起きているべきではない。(Yoru osoku made okite iru beki dewa nai.) – You shouldn’t stay up late at night.
Criticizing actions
Used to express disapproval of someone else’s actions, stating that what they did was wrong.
Example: そんな失礼なことを言うべきではなかった。(Sonna shitsurei na koto o iu beki dewa nakatta.) – You shouldn’t have said such a rude thing.
Expressing personal conviction
Used to state one’s firm belief that a certain action is generally wrong or should not be taken.
Example: 安易に人を信用するべきではない。(An’i ni hito o shinyou suru beki dewa nai.) – One should not trust people easily.
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent, used when a strong opinion or firm advice is needed.
🎚️
Difficulty
N3
Example Sentences
授業中に携帯電話を使うべきではない。
You shouldn’t use your mobile phone during class.
人を外見で判断すべきじゃない。
You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.
彼は約束を破るべきではなかった。
He shouldn’t have broken his promise.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Expresses personal conviction
Unlike simple prohibitions, べきではない often reflects the speaker’s strong personal judgment or belief about what is right or wrong.
Example: お金のためだけに働くべきではないと思う。(Okane no tame dake ni hataraku beki dewa nai to omou.) – I think one shouldn’t work just for money.
Past tense: べきではなかった
To express that something *should not have been done* in the past, use べきではなかった.
Example: あんなことを言うべきではなかった。(Anna koto o iu beki dewa nakatta.) – I shouldn’t have said something like that.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using the -ない form instead of dictionary form
✅ Connect べきではない to the dictionary form of the verb.
Incorrect: 食べないべきではない. Correct: 食べるべきではない.
❌ Using it in overly polite or indirect situations
✅ べきではない is quite direct. For softer advice, use 〜ない方がいい.
While not strictly a mistake, using べきではない can sound strong. Consider the context and relationship with the listener.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Relatively direct. It can sometimes sound critical or overly opinionated, especially in formal settings towards superiors.
Social Situations: Used when giving serious advice, expressing moral judgments, or stating what is generally considered inappropriate behavior.
Regional Variations: The core usage is standard, but regional dialects might use different emphatic particles or sentence endings.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜べきではない vs. 〜ない方がいい
べきではない is a stronger statement about what is wrong or inappropriate; 〜ない方がいい is softer advice or recommendation.
When to use: Use べきではない when you have a strong conviction or need to emphasize the wrongness of an action. Use 〜ない方がいい for gentle suggestions or recommendations.
〜べきではない vs. 〜てはいけない
〜てはいけない indicates a rule or prohibition from an external source or authority; 〜べきではない often reflects the speaker’s personal or a general moral/social judgment.
When to use: Use 〜てはいけない for rules (e.g., “You can’t enter here”). Use 〜べきではない for advice or opinions on what is morally or socially wrong (e.g., “You shouldn’t lie”).
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Always attach to the dictionary form of verbs. The only minor irregularity is with する, which can be すべき or するべき.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

べき sounds like “beki”. The full phrase is pronounced smoothly, linking べき and ではない/じゃない.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of べき as “should” (like in 〜べきだ), and adding ではない makes it “should not”. Remember the する exception.

Practice Exercises
次の文の（　）に最も適切なものを選びなさい。 人を傷つけるようなことを言う（　）。
べきだ
べきではない
たほうがいい
かもしれない
「安易に人を信用するべきじゃない」のより丁寧な表現はどれか。
安易に人を信用しない方がいい
安易に人を信用してはいけない
安易に人を信用すべきではない
安易に人を信用しないでしょう
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