Harusnya (or the slightly more formal seharusnya) comes from the word harus, which means must / have to.
However, harusnya / seharusnya does not mean “must.”
Instead, it expresses:
1. Expectation that didn’t happen
You expected something to happen, but it didn’t.
- Harusnya dia datang jam 8.
(He was supposed to come at 8 — but he didn’t.)
2. Soft advice / suggestion
You think something is the right thing to do, but it’s softer than harus.
- Harusnya kamu istirahat.
(You should rest.)
3. Mild criticism or regret
You think something would have been better.
- Seharusnya kita reservasi dulu.
(We should have made a reservation.)
Harus vs Harusnya/Seharusnya (Quick Comparison)
| Word | Meaning | Tone | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| harus | must / have to | firm, direct | obligation |
| harusnya / seharusnya | should / supposed to / should have | softer, reflective | expectations, suggestions, regrets |
10 Example Sentences (Harusnya / Seharusnya)
- Harusnya kamu tidur lebih cepat tadi malam.
(You should have slept earlier last night.) - Seharusnya dia sudah sampai sekarang.
(He should’ve arrived by now.) - Harusnya kita pesan tiket dari kemarin.
(We should have booked the tickets yesterday.) - Seharusnya aku bawa payung.
(I should have brought an umbrella.) - Harusnya kamu bilang kalau kamu terlambat.
(You should have told me you were late.) - Seharusnya mereka ikut rapat pagi ini.
(They were supposed to join the meeting this morning.) - Harusnya aku belajar lebih keras.
(I should have studied harder.) - Seharusnya restoran itu sudah buka jam segini.
(The restaurant should be open by this time.) - Harusnya kamu istirahat, bukan kerja terus.
(You should rest, not keep working.) - Seharusnya kita bisa menang kalau kita latihan lebih banyak.
(We should have been able to win if we trained more.)
