ありうべき

Meanings

pre-noun adjectival

usually written using kana aloneformal or literary

Formal/literary pre-noun adjectival; used to describe something that can or should exist or happen. Often found in philosophical, legal, or careful writing.

あり得うべき未み来らいのシナリオを検けん討とうする。
We examine possible future scenarios.
それはあり得うべき結けっ果かの一ひとつだ。
That is one of the likely outcomes.

pre-noun adjectival

preferable; desirable

usually written using kana aloneformal or literary

Formal/literary; expresses what ought to be or what is ideal. Less common than the 'possible' sense and often interchangeable with 望ましい in modern Japanese.

あり得うべき社しゃ会かいの姿すがたを論ろんじる。
We discuss the desirable form of society.

Kanji

得gain, get, find
有possess, have, exist

Related words

あり得うる
あり得る is the dictionary form verb meaning 'can exist/happen'; あり得べき is its classical attributive form used as a pre-noun adjectival, now mostly formal/literary.
可か能のう
可能 is a more common, neutral word for 'possible'; あり得べき carries a formal, often philosophical nuance.
望のぞましい
望ましい is the standard modern word for 'desirable'; あり得べき in its second sense is more formal and less frequent.

Written forms

あり得うべき
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; usually written in kana.
有あり得うべき
Variant using the older kanji 有; less common than あり得べき.

Etymology

The attributive form of classical あり得べし, formed from あり “exist,” 得 “be able to,” and the auxiliary べし, which expresses possibility, likelihood, obligation, or suitability.