たほうがいい (ta hou ga ii)

Related patterns6

Same meaning3

should do; advisable to

べきだshould do; ought to doattaches at
ことだthe thing to do is — blunt advice given as the obvious answerattaches at
ないほうがいいhad better not do; should not (advice)attaches at

All examples3

had better; it would be smart to — advice for the listener's benefit

傘かさ、持もって行いったほうがいいよ。
kasa, motte itta hou ga ii yo.
You'd better take an umbrella. casual
連休れんきゅうは混こむから、早はやめに予約よやくしたほうがいい。
renkyuu wa komu kara, hayame ni yoyakushita hou ga ii.
It gets crowded over the long weekend, so you had better book early. neutral
一度いちど、専門せんもんの方かたに相談そうだんしたほうがいいと思おもいます。
ichido, senmon no kata ni soudan shita hou ga ii to omoimasu.
I think it would be best to consult a specialist. formal

How it's formed1

All forms2

pastたほうがよかったtahougayokatta
味あじわったほうがよかった
politeたほうがいいですtahougaiidesu
味あじわったほうがいいです

Notes

Plain 行いくほうがいい sounds general; the た version points the
advice at the listener's here-and-now. Past たほうがよかった means the good
option was missed — "should have".

たほうがいい