Fixed pattern “该……了”
In Chinese the pattern “该……了” (gāi...le) shows that it is time to do something.
The pattern is mostly used in spoken Chinese.
Core Meaning
该 + Verb / Verb Phrase + 了
it's time to ...
or
now one should ...
Examples
咱们该买去上海的票了
Structure
咱们 + 该 + 买去上海的票 + 了
we + it's time + buy the tickets to Shanghai + 了
咱们 — we
该 — it's time / should
买去上海的票 — to buy the tickets to Shanghai
了 — marks the move to a new situation
八点了，该上课了
Structure
八点了 + 该 + 上课 + 了
it's eight + it's time + have class + 了
八点了 — it's already eight
该 — it's time
上课 — to have class / start class
了 — marks that the time to do it has come
已经很晚了，我该睡觉了
or: It's late now — time to sleep.
Structure
已经很晚了 + 我 + 该 + 睡觉 + 了
it's already very late + I + should + sleep + 了
已经很晚了 — it's already very late
我 — I
该 — should / it's time
睡觉 — to sleep
了 — marks that the time to do it has come
Quick Rule
该 + Verb + 了
Meaning: it's time to do something
Example:
该上课了
该睡觉了
Exercise — Complete the Sentences
天已经黑了，__________
电影就要开始了，__________
他下个星期过生日，__________