Japanese grammar · no level in the source

〜ばよかったmeaning and usage

Meaning

If only I had done A; I should have done A. Expresses regret about not doing A. With the negative conditional form (なければよかった), it means 'If only I hadn't done A' or 'I shouldn't have done A.'

How to form it

  • verb (ba-form)よかった
  • verb (nai-form without ない)なければよかった
  • verb (ba-form)よかったのに

How it is used

Expresses regret about the past: 'I should have… / if only I had…'. The negative 「〜なければよかった」 regrets something you did. Adding 「のに」 makes it stronger; said about someone else, it sounds like pity or reproach.

Examples

  1. あのゲーム、 買っておけばよかった。

    I should have bought that game.

  2. もっと早く家を出ればよかった。

    I should have left home earlier.

  3. あんなにたくさん食べなければよかった。

    I shouldn't have eaten so much.