This means you really should do something. It shows a strong duty or what is proper. It is like saying 'must' or 'should' in a formal way.
Verb [dictionary form] + べしPrimary
い-Adjective [stem] + くある + べし
な-Adjective + である + べし
Noun + である + べし
This means you really should do something. It shows a strong duty or what is proper. It is like saying 'must' or 'should' in a formal way.
学生は学業に専念すべし。
Students should dedicate themselves to their studies.
国民の知るべき権利は、最大限尊重されなければならない。
The people's right to know must be respected to the fullest extent.
もっと早く真実を話すべきだったと後悔している。
I regret that I should have told the truth sooner.
「汝、隣人を愛すべし」とは、多くの宗教に共通する教えだ。
Thou shalt love thy neighbor' is a teaching common to many religions.
リーダーたる者は、常に冷静であるべし。
One who is a leader should always be calm.
This grammar changes a bit. At the end of a sentence, it is `〜べし`. When it describes a noun, it becomes `〜べき`. For example, `守るべきルール` means 'rules you should follow'. To talk about something that should have happened but didn't, you use `〜べきだった`. This shows regret.
This is different from 〜べきだ. That is a common modern way to say "should." This is also different from 〜なければならない. That means "must do." This is a very old way to say "should." It is also different from 〜べし (強い推量). That means "it must be so." This 〜べし means "you must do something."
Don't use this when you talk to friends. It sounds very old-fashioned. For example, do not say "You should eat your vegetables" with 〜べし. This grammar is mostly for old writings. You will see it in laws or sayings. It is not for everyday talk.
Often confused with(1)
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