ばよかった (bayokatta)

Meaning & usage

ばよかった expresses regret about the past, meaning the speaker wishes things had been done differently. It attaches to the ば conditional form of a verb, which is made from the plain past form with the final た changed to ば (e.g. やめておけばよかった). It often appears with なあ or のに to add an emotional tone.

Example sentences 8

1. 後あとになって、やめておけばよかったなんて思おもったりしない？

   If you continue with it, don't you think you'll end up regretting it later on?

2. テストのために勉強をもっとしておけばよかったなあ。

   I wish I had studied harder for the test.

3. ひとりで来てほしいと言ってくれればよかったのに。

   You should have told me that you wanted me to come alone.

4. あんなにたくさんお金を使わなければよかったなあ。

   I wish I hadn't spent so much money.

5. テーラーさんはパーティーに来なければよかったと思っている。

   Mr Taylor wishes he had not come to the party.

6. もう５分早く家を出ていればよかったのだが。

   If only I had left home five minutes earlier.

7. 体をもっと大切にしておけばよかったのだが。

   I wish I had taken better care of myself.

8. きのうのパーティーに来ればよかったのに。とてもおもしろかったよ。

   We missed you very much at the party yesterday. We had a very good time indeed.