InitialJ
N3advicerecommendation

～ことだ (koto da) - Should

[Verb dictionary form] + ことだ

Quick answer

[Verb dictionary form] + ことだ means "Should / It's best to / The thing to do is". Mastering this N3 structure builds fluency for reading and listening. Full examples and exercises are below.

Meaning

Should / It's best to / The thing to do is

Explanation

Gives advice or recommendation.

Examples

健康でいたいなら、運動することだ。
けんこうでいたいなら、うんどうすることだ。
If you want to be healthy, you should exercise.
健—Healthy運—Luck動—to move
日本語が上手になりたいなら、毎日話すことです。
にほんごがじょうずになりたいなら、まいにちはなすことです。
If you want to get good at Japanese, you should speak every day.
本—Book上—Top手—Hand

Practice this grammar

[Verb dictionary form] + ことだ

Which sentence correctly uses "～ことだ (koto da) - Should"?

Vocabulary from these examples

手HandN4動to moveN4健HealthyN4運LuckN4上Top上Upper part上Top本Book手Hand運Luck

Last updated Jul 4, 2026