Use ばよかった to look back and wish a different choice had been made.
The idea
Put the verb in its ば conditional form and add よかったです: 行く → 行けばよかったです. For a regretted action, use the negative conditional: 買わない → 買わなければよかったです.
| Dictionary form | Conditional |
|---|---|
| 行く | 行けば |
| 食べる | 食べれば |
| する | すれば |
| 来る | 来れば |
| 買わない | 買わなければ |
Examples
- 傘を持って来ればよかったです。I should have brought an umbrella.
- 試験のためにもっと勉強すればよかったです。I should have studied more for the exam.
- 先生に聞けばよかったです。I should have asked the teacher.
- こんなにたくさん買わなければよかったです。I should not have bought so much.
- もっと早く来ればよかったです。I should have come earlier.
- 予約をすればよかったです。I should have made a reservation.
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Watch out
よかった is past, but the conditional verb is not in the past form. 行けばよかった means you did not go; 行かなければよかった means you went and regret it.
Try it yourself
「行く」→ ＿＿よかったです。
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行けば
行けば — Change the final く of the godan verb to け and add ば.
「食べる」→ ＿＿よかったです。
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食べれば
食べれば — Remove る from the ichidan verb and add れば.
「する」→ ＿＿よかったです。
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すれば
すれば — This is the irregular conditional of する.
「買わない」→ ＿＿よかったです。
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買わなければ
買わなければ — Change negative ない to なければ; the speaker regrets buying.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
「行く」→ ＿＿よかったです。
「食べる」→ ＿＿よかったです。
「する」→ ＿＿よかったです。
「買わない」→ ＿＿よかったです。
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe two things you wish you had done and one thing you wish you had not done.