<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＂。  

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## 2 answers

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

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:
[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.


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### 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.


---

