Sign inSign up

kodomo no anzen wo yuusensubeki desu.

子供こども　の　安全あんぜん　を　優先ゆうせんすべき　です。kodomo no anzen wo yuusensubeki desu.
Children's safety should be given priority.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have hundreds of Japanese lessons and thousands of exercises.
Start learning Japanese

Start learning Japanese now

Questions & Answers about kodomo no anzen wo yuusensubeki desu.

What does the の particle do in 子供の安全?
The particle の links two nouns. Here it acts like the English apostrophe-s, so 子供の安全 means children’s safety or the safety of children.
Why is 安全 marked with を?
Because 優先すべき comes from the verb 優先する (“to prioritize”). Japanese verbs take を for their direct object. So 安全を優先すべき literally means “should prioritize safety.”
What is the grammar behind 優先すべきです?
  1. 優先する is a noun+する verb: “to prioritize.”
  2. To express “should do X,” attach べき to the 未然形 (imperfective): 優先し → 優先すべき.
  3. Adding です makes it polite. The plain form is 優先すべきだ.
Why 優先すべき instead of 優先するべき?
Traditionally, べき attaches to the 未然形 of verbs. For する-verbs, the 未然形 of する is す, so you get 優先すべき. Saying 優先するべき is heard in speech but is considered less classical.
Why is there a です at the end? Can’t we just say 優先すべき?
You can drop です in very formal or written style (優先すべきだ in plain form). In polite conversation or writing, you add です to soften and show respect: 優先すべきです.
Why is there no subject (like “we” or “you”) in the sentence?
Japanese often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here, “we/you/in general” is understood. It’s common to leave it out for brevity.
How is べき different from たほうがいい?
  • 〜べき expresses a strong obligation or moral recommendation (“should/ought to”).
  • 〜たほうがいい is a gentler suggestion (“it would be better to”).
    Use べき when you want to sound firmer.
Can I use a softer expression instead of べき?

Yes. For example:
• 子供の安全を優先したほうがいいです。
(It would be better to prioritize children’s safety.)
• 子供の安全を最優先に考えてください。
(Please consider children’s safety as the top priority.)
• 子供の安全を優先してください。
(Please prioritize children’s safety.)

What part of speech is 優先 in 優先すべき?
優先 is a Sino-Japanese noun meaning “priority.” When combined with する, it becomes the verb 優先する (“to prioritize”). In 優先すべき, you’re using that verb in the “should” form.
How does べき differ from しなければなりません?

• 〜べき = “should/ought to.” Advice or moral duty.
• 〜なければなりません = “must/have to.” Strong necessity.
Choose べき for a firm recommendation and しなければなりません for a stronger, almost unavoidable requirement.