JLPT N3 grammar
べきだった — Meaning & Examples
Should have — regret about a specific past action. もっと早く謝るべきだった = I should have apologised sooner.
Practice questions
Try this question on べきだった. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「もっと早く謝るべきだった」 means?
- I will apologise soon
- I never apologise
- I apologised too early
- I should have apologised sooner (and didn't)
Show answer
Answer: I should have apologised sooner (and didn't)
べきだった = should have — regret about a specific past action that did NOT happen.
Practise べきだった in the free app
This point is part of the “⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: ⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ
- べきだShould / ought to — a personal judgement about what is right.
- ものだA general truth or shared social norm — "that's just how it is." 人は誰でも間違えるものだ = people ma…
- ものではないA gentle "you shouldn't" — a soft, near-proverbial social norm, gentler than べきではない.
- ものだ (nostalgia)Past tense + よく + ものだ = fond reminiscence about the past.
Frequently asked questions
What does べきだった mean?
Should have — regret about a specific past action. もっと早く謝るべきだった = I should have apologised sooner.
Is べきだった on the JLPT N3 test?
べきだった is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise べきだった?
Open the “⚖️ Should and General Truths — べきだ・ものだ” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.