gāi

should

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
言 meaning component

  Meaning component

yán

  

speech

亥 sound component

  Sound component

hài

  

12th terrestrial branch

Evolution

该 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
该 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
该 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
该 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

gāi

should, ought to, need to; should; ought to; probably; must be; to deserve; to owe; to be sb's turn to do sth; that; the above-mentioned

Most common words with 该
Freq.
Word
Meaning

should

应该

ought to

该死

Damn it!

不该

should not

活该

ought