应该是
yīnggāi shì
Probably or should be · trad. 應該是
应该是 (yīnggāi shì) means “probably” or “should be the case,” indicating a confident assumption or a strong likelihood. Speakers use it to express a confident guess or expectation about a situation.
What does 应该是 (yīnggāi shì) mean?
应该是 (yīnggāi shì) means “probably or should be” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “should be.”
When to use it
Neutral. It's commonly used when you are fairly certain about something but don't have absolute proof. For a less confident guess, use 可能是 (kěnéng shì), “might be.”
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “YING-guy SHIR.” The first syllable is a high, flat tone, the second is a high, rising tone, and the third is a falling tone.
Other ways to say it
- 应该yīnggāishould / ought to
- 可能是kěnéng shìmight be / possibly is
- 大概是dàgài shìprobably is / roughly is
Examples
他应该是明天到。
tā yīnggāi shì míngtiān dào.
He should arrive tomorrow.
这应该是你需要的。
zhè yīnggāi shì nǐ xūyào de.
This should be what you need.
你说的应该是对的。
nǐ shuō de yīnggāi shì duì de.
What you said should be correct.
Pro tip: Use 应该是 when you have a good reason to believe something is true, even if it's not 100% confirmed. It conveys a sense of informed estimation.
Related phrases
不一定 · Not necessarily可能吧 · Maybe差不多 · More or less
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