ISORI

〜たらいい / 〜ばいい

JLPT N4:

should / what should I do

Gives advice ("you should…", "all you need to do is…"), or asks for it ("what should I do?").

How to form it

  • Put the verb in its たら form or ば form and add いい: 休(やす)んだらいい, 休(やす)めばいい.
  • To ask for advice, use a question word: どうしたらいいですか, どうすればいいですか (what should I do?).
  • 〜たらどうですか suggests something: 医者(いしゃ)に行(い)ったらどうですか (why don't you see a doctor?).

Examples

風邪(かぜ)なら、家(いえ)で休(やす)んだらいいですよ。

If you've got a cold, you should rest at home.

どうすればいいですか。

What should I do?

Notes

  • ばいい can mean "all you have to do is", and in an annoyed tone "just do it, then": 勝手(かって)にすればいい (do what you like, then).
  • 〜ばよかった means "I should have": もっと勉強(べんきょう)すればよかった (I should have studied more).

Similar meaning