〜ばよかった

〜ばよかった expresses regret about the past: "if only I had done…". Conjugate the verb into the ば-form and add よかった: もっと勉強すればよかった (I wish I had studied harder). The thing you regret is what you did NOT do.

Conversely, to regret something you went ahead and did, use the negative 〜なければよかった: あんなに食べなければよかった (I wish I hadn't eaten that much). Remember this pair of meanings: ばよかった = regret over not doing, なければよかった = regret over having done.

This pattern often comes with a sigh, ああ〜, and is frequently said to oneself; add です when you need to be polite. Don't confuse it with 〜てよかった — that is the exact opposite feeling: relief, "I'm glad I did."

Examples

• 学生(がくせい)の時(とき)、もっと勉強(べんきょう)すればよかったです。

  I wish I had studied harder when I was a student.

• 傘(かさ)を持(も)ってくればよかった。

  I wish I had brought an umbrella.

• ゆうべあんなに食(た)べなければよかったです。

  I wish I hadn't eaten so much last night.

Related patterns

• 〜ば
• 〜てよかった