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How to Say ‘I should get going.’ in Simplified Chinese

我该走了。

wǒ gāi zǒu le

[wo gāi zǒu le]

🇨🇳 In China: In China it's normal to signal you're leaving a little before you actually go. Expect the host to protest politely or see you to the door.

Phrase Breakdown

我该

wǒ gāi

I should

wǒ gāi: a low tone, then a high flat tone. 该 means 'should' or 'it's time to'.

Example

我该睡觉了。

I should go to bed.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[wo]

I

The speaker referring to themselves.

Example

我明天有空。

I am free tomorrow.

该

gāi

[gāi]

should; ought to

Expresses that it is time or right to do something.

Example

你该睡觉了。

You should go to sleep.

走了。

zǒu le

go now

zǒu le: a low dipping tone, then a light 'le'.

Example

他们走了。

They've left.

Words in this phrase

走

zǒu

[zǒu]

to leave; to go away

To depart from a place.

Example

我们该走了。

We should leave now.

了

le

[le]

change-of-state particle

Used with 快…了 to show something is about to happen.

Example

火车快来了。

The train is about to arrive.

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