<p>Note that "should" expresses either obligation or expectation. The Chinese term 应该 also expresses either obligation or expectation. For the latter, adding 会 adds to the clarity and adding 吧 at the end of the sentence makes it even clearer.</p>

<p>He should be here by 7PM.
If you mean "he is expected to be here by 7 pm": 他应该会在下午7点前到吧。</p>

<p>I should have it done by Friday.
If you mean "I must have it done by Friday": 我应该在星期五之前把它做完。If you mean "I expect to have it done by Friday": 我应该会在星期五之前把它做完吧。</p>

<p>It should run in Windows 95.
这（软件）应该能用于 Windows 95 吧。
(Of course a piece of software could not possibly have any obligation to anybody, so there can only by one interpretation)</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-13T23:17:27.743Z
2016-02-13T23:17:27.743Z
johnseah
<p>Generally, you can use 应该. However, as Stan says in comments, it does carry the connotation that there is some reason why it "should" be. So, for example, you could say a sentence like:</p>

<pre><code>[要是他六点离开了，]他应该七点到。
[If he has left at six, ] he should be here at seven.
</code></pre>

<p>If you're just throwing out an estimate, it would be better to use an "I think..." construction. This carries less of a tone of uncertainty than it does in English:</p>

<pre><code>我认为我周五会把这个任务办好。
I think I'll have it done by/on friday.
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-13T07:18:41.237Z
2016-01-13T07:18:41.237Z
KWeiss
<p>I've struggled with this for a while, and I haven't found a definitive answer. In English we can use 'should' to indicate an estimation or probability.
Merriam-Websters 4th definition is that should</p>
<blockquote>
<p>is used in auxiliary function to express what is probable or expected</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He should be here by 7PM.</p>
<p>I should have it done by Friday.</p>
<p>It should run in Windows 95.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I use 应该 but it feels wrong since there is no sense of obligation or demand, whereas there is such a connotation in &quot;should&quot;. What should I use?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-12T11:23:23.090Z
应该 makes perfect sense to me, or specifically for the subjunctive mood, 本应(该). But I think there must be **some reason** (logical or other general sense of "reason") that makes something "should" happen, that is, there's some sense of generalized obligation – "He should be here by 7PM." Why? Because there might be an appointment, or it was the reasonable time estimation based on common sense.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-12T13:59:29.753Z
应该 for estimation（also 得）, see e.g.＂实用现代汉语语法＂能愿动词，三、能愿动词分述 （六）应该、应当、应、该 ［１。表示事实上或情理上的需要，已然、未然的情况都可以用。］２。表示估计或推测，也是建立在第１项用法的基础上。例如：１。都六点了，他应该来了。２此项决议顺利贯彻应无问题。３他是个聪明人，应该明白我的意思。＂应该＂、＂应当＂的用法基本一样，可以单独回答问题，后边可以用主谓短语作宾语，可以用于书面语，也可以用于口语。＂应＂多用于书面语，＂该＂多用于口语。（七）得２。表示估计、推测，在语气比＂会＂更肯定。例如：１你一回来，小兰准得高兴。２这个丫头啊，我看早晚得当了我的儿媳妇。３她那泼辣劲儿一上来，还不得经常吵架呀！４这件衣服得好几百块吧？在陈述句里，表达否定意思时用＂不会＂、＂不可能＂。
user6065
<translation><word-choice>
Translating "should" to express what is probable or expected
# Translating "should" to express what is probable or expected

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-12)

I've struggled with this for a while, and I haven't found a definitive answer. In English we can use 'should' to indicate an estimation or probability.
Merriam-Websters 4th definition is that should

> is used in auxiliary function to express what is probable or expected

For example:

> He should be here by 7PM.
>
> I should have it done by Friday.
>
> It should run in Windows 95.

I use 应该 but it feels wrong since there is no sense of obligation or demand, whereas there is such a connotation in "should". What should I use?

**Tags:** translation, word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 应该 makes perfect sense to me, or specifically for the subjunctive mood, 本应(该). But I think there must be **some reason** (logical or other general sense of "reason") that makes something "should" happen, that is, there's some sense of generalized obligation – "He should be here by 7PM." Why? Because there might be an appointment, or it was the reasonable time estimation based on common sense.  
> **username_2**: 应该 for estimation（also 得）, see e.g.＂实用现代汉语语法＂能愿动词，三、能愿动词分述 （六）应该、应当、应、该 ［１。表示事实上或情理上的需要，已然、未然的情况都可以用。］２。表示估计或推测，也是建立在第１项用法的基础上。例如：１。都六点了，他应该来了。２此项决议顺利贯彻应无问题。３他是个聪明人，应该明白我的意思。＂应该＂、＂应当＂的用法基本一样，可以单独回答问题，后边可以用主谓短语作宾语，可以用于书面语，也可以用于口语。＂应＂多用于书面语，＂该＂多用于口语。（七）得２。表示估计、推测，在语气比＂会＂更肯定。例如：１你一回来，小兰准得高兴。２这个丫头啊，我看早晚得当了我的儿媳妇。３她那泼辣劲儿一上来，还不得经常吵架呀！４这件衣服得好几百块吧？在陈述句里，表达否定意思时用＂不会＂、＂不可能＂。  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-01-13. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Generally, you can use 应该. However, as username_1 says in comments, it does carry the connotation that there is some reason why it "should" be. So, for example, you could say a sentence like:

```
[要是他六点离开了，]他应该七点到。
[If he has left at six, ] he should be here at seven.

```

If you're just throwing out an estimate, it would be better to use an "I think..." construction. This carries less of a tone of uncertainty than it does in English:

```
我认为我周五会把这个任务办好。
I think I'll have it done by/on friday.

```


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-02-13. Score: 1

Note that "should" expresses either obligation or expectation. The Chinese term 应该 also expresses either obligation or expectation. For the latter, adding 会 adds to the clarity and adding 吧 at the end of the sentence makes it even clearer.

He should be here by 7PM.
If you mean "he is expected to be here by 7 pm": 他应该会在下午7点前到吧。

I should have it done by Friday.
If you mean "I must have it done by Friday": 我应该在星期五之前把它做完。If you mean "I expect to have it done by Friday": 我应该会在星期五之前把它做完吧。

It should run in Windows 95.
这（软件）应该能用于 Windows 95 吧。
(Of course a piece of software could not possibly have any obligation to anybody, so there can only by one interpretation)

Thank you.


---

