た方がいい (tahougaii) Meaning Japanese Grammar - You Better Do

Is it better to do or not to do?

た方(ほう)が良(い)い (tahō ga ii) is used to indicate some action that it would be better if you do (or not do in its negative form with ない: ない方(ほう)が良(い)い).

We can translate the form as you better do and in the negative you better not do.

た方(ほう)が良(い)い indicates an advice to another person or what it would be better / appropriate to do given the circumstances in which you find yourself.

This form is formed with:

• For the affirmative form: Plain verb in the affirmative past tense + hō (ほ う) ga (が) ii (良 い) desu (です)
• For the negative form: Negative Plain verb in the present tense + hō (ほ う) ga (が) ii (良 い) desu (です)

Colloquial form of た方が良い

In the confidential or colloquial form the verb です (desu) is often omitted and the exclamation particles typical of conversation are also used.

Excerpt from a blog online discussing professions to avoid for various reasons:

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

さけた方(ほう)がいい職(しょく)種(しゅ)

Professions to avoid

In this sentence we find the form we have introduced in this post formed:

• by the verb 避(さ)ける in the plain form and affirmative past tense 避(さ)けた
• combined with the expression 方(ほう)が良(い)い or 方(ほう)がいい: it is better to + verb The kanji 良い can be read いい or よい
• the title of the article is a relative clause that in Japanese is used before the noun it refers to
• さけた方(ほう)がいい職(しょく)種(しゅ) the jobs to avoid

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

やらない方(ほう)がいい仕(し)事(ごと)

Jobs that you shouldn't do

• In this case we have the negative expression: it is better not to...
• We use the negative plain verb in the present tense