ほうが良かった

would have been better

→ 方

phrase Rare #40,921

would have been better Used to say that a different choice would have been preferable, often with hindsight. The exact meaning depends on context; with a verb in the past negative form, it can mean that it would have been better not to do something.

JA: 早く寝たほうが良かった。

EN: I should have gone to bed earlier.

ひょっとしたらしないほうが良かったかもしれない。

Maybe I shouldn’t have done it.

トムは美容院に行ったけれど、早く帰ったほうが良かったんじゃないのかな。

Tom went to the hair salon, but maybe he should have gone home earlier.

アイドルのほうが良かったでしょ

You would’ve been better off as an idol, right?

— PERFECT BLUE (1998)

君は、そこに行かなかったほうが良かった。

You shouldn't have gone there.