might as well, had better를 둘 다 ‘~하는 게 낫겠어’라고 생각하시는 분들이 많더라고요. 잘못 쓰면 뉘앙스가 확- 달라지기에 여러분이 두 표현의 뉘앙스 차이를 확실히 아실 수 있도록 준비했습니다.
또 had better보다 좀 더 부드럽게 제안/조언할 때 쓸 수 있는 표현들도 담았으니 오늘 다룬 표현들은 꼭 확실히 기억해주세요.
뉘앙스가 확- 달라지는 had better, might as well
*특정 행동을 안 하면 안 좋은 일이 일어날 것 같은 had better: ~하는 게 나을거야/좋을거야
*주어진 상황에서 최선의 선택일 때 might as well: (어차피/기왕 이렇게 된거) ~하는 것이 낫겠어.
1. might as well: 주어진 상황에서 최선의 선택일 때 might as well
(어차피/기왕 이렇게 된거) ~하는 것이 좋다
(그냥) ~나 해야겠다, (차라리)~하는 편이 낫다
*Oxford 사전: used to make an unenthusiastic suggestion
*캠브릿지 사전: used to suggest doing something often when there is nothing better to do.
Well, I’m here now. I might as well get something out of it.
Well, you might as well get something out of it.
2. had better: 특정 행동을 안 하면 안 좋은 일이 일어날 것 같은 had better
~하는 게 좋을거야/나을거야
*롱맨 사전 – used to give advice about what someone should do
– used to threaten someone
You better!
상사, 연장자보다는 동급, 내 자신에게 자주 쓰는 had better
I had better = I’d better
*구어체에선 I better이라고 줄여 쓰기도 해요.
*롱맨 사전: In speech, people usually shorten had to ‘d, and may not pronounce it at all.
But do not leave out had or ‘d in writing.
I better go now. 나 빨리 가봐야 해.
[비교예문-1]
일을 안 하면 안 좋은 일이 일어날 것 같은 느낌: I’d better get some work done.
어차피 이렇게 된 거 일이나 해야겠다.: I might as well get some work done.
[비교예문-2]
You better make youself useful (or else).
or else: (협박/경고) 안 그랬단 봐.
*Oxford 사전: used to warn what will happen if something is not carried out
This better not happen again, or else.
Well, you’re here now. You might as well make yourself useful.
Well, I’m here. Might as well make myself useful.
[had better를 흔히 쓰는 대상]
1) 부하 직원
A: Relax, Harvey. I’m all over it.
B: You better be.
*I’m all over it
-어떠한 일이나 프로젝트에 엄청난 애정과 열정을 쏟고 있을 때. I’m all over it / I’m on top of it.
Better be ready!
Better be perfect!
I know you’re going through a lot, so I’ll cut you some slack, but you better pull yourself together sooner rather than later.
(요즘 힘든 거 알아 그래서 좀 봐줄 거야 그러나 조만간 정신 차려야 해)
I can only give you so many chances.
(수많은 기회만 줄 수는 없잖아)
*pull yourself together 마음을 가다듬어/정신차려/진정해
*sooner (rather) than later 조만간, 머지 않아, 곧
<감정적으로 구는 사람에게>
Pull yourself together.
2) 동급(친구)
동사 ghost 잠수타다
*캠브릿지 사전: to end a relationship with someone suddenly by stopping all communication with them.
You better have a good excuse for ghosting me.
You better have a good explanaton for this!
3) 내 자신
I better get back to work.
[had better 보다 부드러운 표현]
강한 조언/경고: 금요일까지 안 끝내면 안 좋은 일이 생길 것 같음.
We’d better get it done by Friday.
→
<단순히 의무사항을 얘기할 때>
We have to get it done by Friday.
*캠브릿지 사전: We use had better to give specific advice, not to talk about obligations or requirements; instead , we use have to.
(좋은 생각일 것 같다는, 개인적인 견해를 담음) 조언/충고
We should get it done by Friday.
We should get started.
I think we should ~
(내 생각엔 우리가 ~하는 게 좋을 것 같아/~해야 된다고 생각해)
I think we should get it done by Friday.
I think we should get started, anyway.
(좀 더 부드러운)
It would be better to get it done by Friday.
*롱맨 사전: used to give your opinion or make a suggestion about what you think should be done or happen.
Maybe, it’d be better to push it back a bit.
*심지어 had better의 강한 어조 때문에 had best를 선호하는 사람들도 있엉.
캠브릿지 사전: Sometims people say had best instead of had better,
especially in informal speaking. This sounds slightly less strong and less direct.
