должен = should /or/ must?

[david-us.livejournal.com]

In English, to say that one should do something has a connotation of choice.

"You should go there" implies to the listener that it is somewhat of a recommendation. They don't have to go there. It's not an order.

That is completely different from "You must go there." The connotation is one of an order. There's no option.

 

How do Russians make this distinction?
 

Вы должны пойти туда.

 

Would a Russian interpret this as an order or a recommendation. "You should go there" or "You must go there"?

 

 

Comments

[orie.livejournal.com]

I think in very many cases "должен" means that the person HAS an option, e.g. "Чтобы успеть в кино мы должны выйти в 5:30" - "We should go out at 5:30 if we want to come to the movies on time".

I think we have one verb for both cases and English has two verbs, different for each case. "Следует" is a standard way to translate English "should" but no one ever uses it in informal context.