Dapat magpahinga ka ngayong gabi.

You should rest tonight.

Breakdown of Dapat magpahinga ka ngayong gabi.

• ngayong gabi: tonight
• ka: you
• magpahinga: to rest
• dapat: should

Questions & Answers about Dapat magpahinga ka ngayong gabi.

What does the word dapat express here, and how is it different from kailangan?

Dapat means “should/ought to” (an expectation or recommendation). Kailangan means “must/need to” (a stronger necessity). Compare:

• Dapat magpahinga ka ngayong gabi. = You should rest tonight (advice).
• Kailangan mong magpahinga ngayong gabi. = You must rest tonight (stronger requirement, e.g., doctor’s orders).

Why is it magpahinga and not just pahinga?

Pahinga is a noun (“rest”). Magpahinga is the actor-focus verb “to rest” formed with the prefix mag-. After modals like dapat/kailangan/puwede, use the base verb (here, magpahinga), not the future form.

• Completed: nagpahinga (rested)
• Progressive: nagpapahinga (is resting)
• Contemplated/future: magpapahinga (will rest)
• After a modal or for an imperative: use the base magpahinga (e.g., Dapat magpahinga ka; Magpahinga ka!)

Is this a command or a suggestion?

With dapat, it’s advice/obligation (“you should…”). Without dapat, Magpahinga ka ngayong gabi is a direct command (“Rest tonight”). Adding na softens into a caring nudge: Magpahinga ka na.

Why is ka after the verb? Can I use ikaw here?

Tagalog is typically predicate-initial, so the actor pronoun ka follows the verb/predicate: Magpahinga ka; Dapat magpahinga ka.
Use ikaw when the pronoun starts the sentence or is emphasized:

• Formal/inverted: Ikaw ay dapat magpahinga ngayong gabi.
• Contrastive emphasis: Dapat ikaw ang magpahinga ngayong gabi (“It’s you (not someone else) who should rest tonight”).

Can I say Dapat kang magpahinga ngayong gabi instead? What’s the difference from Dapat magpahinga ka ngayong gabi?

Both are correct and natural. Dapat kang magpahinga uses the linker -ng after dapat (forming kang) to connect to the verb phrase. Many speakers find Dapat kang magpahinga slightly smoother, but the meaning is the same as Dapat magpahinga ka.

Why is it ngayong gabi and not ngayon gabi?

Ngayong is ngayon + the linker -g, used before a following noun: ngayong gabi (“this/tonight”). Linker forms:

• Word ends in a vowel: use -ng (e.g., malaki-ng bahay)
• Word ends in n: use -g (e.g., ngayon + gabi → ngayong gabi)
• Word ends in another consonant: use na (e.g., bukas na umaga)

What’s the difference between ngayong gabi and mamayang gabi?

Both refer to “tonight,” but:

• Ngayong gabi = tonight in general.
• Mamayang gabi = later tonight (implies a later point this evening).

How do I make this more polite/respectful?

Use po and switch to the respectful/plural kayo:

• Dapat po kayong magpahinga ngayong gabi.
• Softer: Magpahinga na po kayo ngayong gabi.

How do I say this to more than one person (plural “you”)?

Use kayo (also the respectful singular):

• Dapat magpahinga kayo ngayong gabi.
• Or with the linker: Dapat kayong magpahinga ngayong gabi.

Can I omit ka?

Yes, but the meaning becomes impersonal/general:
Dapat magpahinga ngayong gabi. = “One should rest tonight.”
To address the listener directly, keep ka (or kayo).

How do I say “You shouldn’t rest tonight”?

Negate with hindi:

• Hindi ka dapat magpahinga ngayong gabi.

How do I turn it into a yes–no question (“Should you rest tonight?”)?

Add the yes–no particle ba:

• To ask about “you”: Dapat ka bang magpahinga ngayong gabi?
• About yourself: Dapat ba akong magpahinga ngayong gabi?

Where can I put softening particles like na and muna?

They usually come early in the predicate, close to the verb/pronoun:

• Dapat magpahinga ka na ngayong gabi. (“You should rest now/already tonight.”)
• Dapat ka munang magpahinga ngayong gabi. (“You should rest first tonight.”)
• Direct suggestion: Magpahinga ka na muna ngayong gabi.

Are there other natural ways to phrase the same idea?

Yes:

• Magpahinga ka ngayong gabi. (command)
• Kailangan mong magpahinga ngayong gabi. (stronger: must)
• Mas mabuti kung magpahinga ka ngayong gabi. (it’d be better if…)