<p>Generally speaking, "不应" is used more frequently in formal writing, while "不该" is used in oral expression. </p>

<p>If it's hard for you to determine formal or non-formal, consider this, use 不该 for subjective, and use 不应 for objective case. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-11T05:10:42.043Z
2016-03-11T05:10:42.043Z
libra
<p>I agree that "不应" is more formal, and I also agree that it seems to be the biggest difference - at least in common use cases. I have a feeling that "不该" is more objective while "不应" is a little bit subjective, but didn't find any reference for this - probably it's just a side effect of being formal/informal.</p>

<p>For example, your first case is likely to happen in oral expression, and the second case is likely to happen in a public speaking or a written essay.</p>

<p>By the way, I think the combined word "应该" can be used to replace either "应" or "该", so there shouldn't be very big differences.</p>

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2016-03-09T22:18:40.130Z
2016-03-09T22:18:40.130Z
bfrguci
<p>Aside from the formal/informal issue, I think another distinction is that 不该 is more suited for an event in the past that "should not have" happened. Using 不应 for this situation sounds awkward, if not wrong, to me. This may have something to do with the objectiveness/subjectiveness @bfrguci mentioned, since "should not have" is not an objective description of reality, but rather an opinion and judgement.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-11T04:16:41.400Z
jukuu：should not have happened，4 results, only one relevant: 。。。things should not have happened in this way。。。发生这样的事情实在太不应该了
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-12T16:52:00.947Z
@jukuu: Good example, but I believe it is a slightly different situation from what OP proposed: 不应 and 不该 is usually followed by an action. If there is no such action or the action is mentioned before, then it looks like the full form 不应该 should be retained.
Mingjing Zhang
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2016-03-11T03:11:31.033Z
2016-03-11T03:11:31.033Z
Mingjing Zhang
<p>"不应" or "不该"  is short for "不应该", so you should use "不应该" in formal writing.</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<p><code>你不应该那样做。</code></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-10T08:25:44.240Z
2016-03-10T08:25:44.240Z
Albert
<p>Recently I've been writing "should not" in Chinese a lot. But, I've been confused. What is the difference between "不该“ and "不应“? Are they both used? </p>

<p>For example, I know we can say</p>

<p>对不起，我不该说那么难听的话。</p>

<p>but we could also say </p>

<p>学习不应再是少数人的高级消遣</p>

<p>(Both examples from Iciba) My intuition says 不应  is more formal. Is that the only difference? Are there different usages? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-10T02:31:49.380Z
negative case likely already covered by affirmative case, see grammars肯定形式的意思和用法很可能也包含其否定形式的意思和用法。请见＂实用现代汉语语法＂能愿动词 三、能愿动词分类（六）应该、应当、应，该。。。＂应＂和＂该＂不能单独回答问题，也不能用主谓短语作宾语。＂应＂多用于书面语，＂该＂多用于口语。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-16T07:25:05.130Z
My intuition is that 不应 is for instruction, and 不该 is for accusation. And accusation is just less common in formal writing.
user23013
<grammar><vocabulary><difference>
"不应" vs. "不该": Which is used in formal writing?
# "不应" vs. "不该": Which is used in formal writing?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-03-09)

Recently I've been writing "should not" in Chinese a lot. But, I've been confused. What is the difference between "不该“ and "不应“? Are they both used?

For example, I know we can say

对不起，我不该说那么难听的话。

but we could also say

学习不应再是少数人的高级消遣

(Both examples from Iciba) My intuition says 不应 is more formal. Is that the only difference? Are there different usages?

**Tags:** grammar, vocabulary, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: negative case likely already covered by affirmative case, see grammars肯定形式的意思和用法很可能也包含其否定形式的意思和用法。请见＂实用现代汉语语法＂能愿动词 三、能愿动词分类（六）应该、应当、应，该。。。＂应＂和＂该＂不能单独回答问题，也不能用主谓短语作宾语。＂应＂多用于书面语，＂该＂多用于口语。  
> **username_2**: My intuition is that 不应 is for instruction, and 不该 is for accusation. And accusation is just less common in formal writing.  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-03-11. Score: 4

Generally speaking, "不应" is used more frequently in formal writing, while "不该" is used in oral expression.

If it's hard for you to determine formal or non-formal, consider this, use 不该 for subjective, and use 不应 for objective case.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2016-03-09. Score: 1

I agree that "不应" is more formal, and I also agree that it seems to be the biggest difference - at least in common use cases. I have a feeling that "不该" is more objective while "不应" is a little bit subjective, but didn't find any reference for this - probably it's just a side effect of being formal/informal.

For example, your first case is likely to happen in oral expression, and the second case is likely to happen in a public speaking or a written essay.

By the way, I think the combined word "应该" can be used to replace either "应" or "该", so there shouldn't be very big differences.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2016-03-11. Score: 0

Aside from the formal/informal issue, I think another distinction is that 不该 is more suited for an event in the past that "should not have" happened. Using 不应 for this situation sounds awkward, if not wrong, to me. This may have something to do with the objectiveness/subjectiveness @username_4 mentioned, since "should not have" is not an objective description of reality, but rather an opinion and judgement.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: jukuu：should not have happened，4 results, only one relevant: 。。。things should not have happened in this way。。。发生这样的事情实在太不应该了  
> **username_5**: @jukuu: Good example, but I believe it is a slightly different situation from what OP proposed: 不应 and 不该 is usually followed by an action. If there is no such action or the action is mentioned before, then it looks like the full form 不应该 should be retained.  

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### Answer by username_6 on 2016-03-10. Score: -1

"不应" or "不该" is short for "不应该", so you should use "不应该" in formal writing.

For example:

`你不应该那样做。`


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