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てしかるべきだ
N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today
te shikaru beki da
should; appropriate; natural to do ~
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てしかるべきだ
te shikaru beki da
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should; appropriate; natural to do ~
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading te shikaru beki da
Post ID 51377
Patterns today 0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes

should; appropriate; natural to do ~

📖 How to use it

Expresses that something should be done because it is appropriate, natural, or deserved.

Attaches to Attach to the て-form of a verb. The verb must be in the て-form, not the dictionary form or stem. For example, する becomes して (してしかるべきだ).

This pattern is used to say that something is the right or proper thing to happen or be done, often because it is a natural consequence or a deserved outcome. It carries a strong sense of moral or logical appropriateness. You might hear it in formal speeches, essays, or news, but rarely in casual conversation. It sounds quite stiff and judgmental, so it's best used when you want to make a strong, principled statement. The nuance is close to 'should' but with more weight, as if the speaker is asserting that any reasonable person would agree. For example, if someone has worked hard, you could say their success はしかるべきだ (is deserved). The verb before it is always in the て-form, so it feels like a set phrase: てしかるべきだ. Often it's used with passive verbs to say something 'should be' done, like 'should be praised' or 'should be treated with respect.'

彼は長年会社に貢献してきたのだから、役員に昇進してしかるべきだ。
Kare wa naganen kaisha ni kōken shite kita no dakara, yakuin ni shōshin shite shikaru beki da.
Since he has contributed to the company for many years, he should be promoted to an executive position.
悪いことをしたのなら、謝ってしかるべきだ。
Warui koto o shita no nara, ayamatte shikaru beki da.
If you have done something wrong, you should apologize.
この本は名著だから、多くの人に読まれてしかるべきだ。
Kono hon wa meicho dakara, ōku no hito ni yomarete shikaru beki da.
This book is a masterpiece, so it should be read by many people.
Not べきだ べきだ is simpler and more common, meaning 'should' based on duty or obligation. てしかるべきだ adds a nuance of 'it is natural and proper' as a result of the situation, often with a sense of justice or appropriateness. For example, 謝るべきだ means 'you should apologize' (obligation), while 謝ってしかるべきだ implies 'apologizing is the appropriate thing to do given the circumstances'.
Register Formal and written; used in speeches, essays, and formal discussions, not in everyday conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
てしかるべきだ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
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Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat てしかるべきだ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
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Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using てしかるべきだ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
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Spaced Review
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern てしかるべきだ mean? ▼
Should; appropriate; natural to do ~
What JLPT level is てしかるべきだ? ▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use てしかるべきだ in a sentence? ▼
Attach てしかるべきだ (te shikaru beki da) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is てしかるべきだ formal or casual Japanese? ▼
てしかるべきだ is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember てしかるべきだ long-term? ▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.