ないほうがいい

it'd be better not to, you'd better not, shouldn't, advice

AI-generated

Structure

[verb ない-form] + ほうがいい [verb ない-form] + ほうがいいです

Description

ないほうがいい gives advice against something: "you'd better not", "you shouldn't". The verb is in the ない-form, and ほうがいい follows it.

。

You shouldn't stay up too late.

。

You shouldn't push yourself too hard.

。

You'd better not say things like that.

Adding です makes it polite; the verb stays in the ない-form.

。

You shouldn't go alone.

ないほうがいい or たほうがいい

Advice to do something takes the た-form: たほうがいい. Advice not to do it takes the ない-form, not the past negative.

。

You should take the medicine.

。

You shouldn't take the medicine.

× 飲まなかったほうがいい → 飲まないほうがいい

ないほうがいい or てはいけない

ないほうがいい recommends. It is softer than てはいけない, which forbids, and the listener is still free to decide. よ at the end makes the advice friendlier.

、。

This road is dark, so you'd better not walk alone.

。

You must not smoke here.

Examples

。

You shouldn't drink coffee late at night.

、。

You have an early morning tomorrow, so you shouldn't stay up late today.

、。

That store is expensive, so you shouldn't go.

、。

If you have a cold, you shouldn't take a bath.

。

You shouldn't play games before the exam.

、。

This road is dark, so you shouldn't walk alone.

。

You shouldn't eat too many sweets.

。

You'd better not talk to him too much.

、。

It looks like it's going to rain, so you'd better not forget your umbrella.

。

You shouldn't tell anyone about that.

、。

If you're going to drive, you shouldn't drink alcohol.

、。

It's cold today, so you shouldn't play outside.

References

ないほうがいいBunpro

～ない～はない

なかなか～ない