About
The character "该" is a phono-semantic compound, structured with the semantic component 言 (speech) on the left and the phonetic component 亥 on the right, a construction that points directly to its original meanings tied to language and completeness. In its early usage, the character carried the sense of something being all-encompassing or complete within a discourse, which logically extended to signify what is proper, necessary, or owed within a given context. This foundational notion of what is fitting or required within the bounds of circumstance facilitated its grammaticalization into the modern modal verb indicating obligation or necessity, meaning "should" or "ought to". Furthermore, this same core concept of something being due or expected allowed for its common contemporary application in constructions like "该...了" to express that something is about to happen or is expected to occur, thereby completing its functional shift from a lexical word about comprehensiveness to a crucial grammatical particle.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
你现在该休息了。
我们该学习新知识了。
他该为自己的行为负责。
你觉得我该怎么做？
该公司的业绩很好。
根据规定，该员工应该得到奖励。
如果天气不好，该活动可能会取消。
鉴于当前形势，该地区采取了紧急措施。