べからず・
An old "must not". べからず ends a notice or a maxim; べからざる goes before a noun. You meet both on old signs, in proverbs and in solemn writing. In conversation people say てはいけない.
Do not enter beyond this gate.
This is an outrage that cannot be tolerated in a democratic society.
Ending a notice or a maxim
Verb in the dictionary form + べからず。
する gives すべからず and すべからざる.
Before a noun
Verb in the dictionary form + べからざる + noun
Most often 欠くべからざる, "indispensable", or 許すべからざる, "unforgivable"; solemn writing puts it on other verbs too. ざる is the old ない before a noun.
- Where you'll meet it
- Old-style signs at temples and in parks, proverbs, period dramas, solemn editorials.
- Signs today say
- 立入禁止 or 入らないでください.
The ones everyone knows
初心忘るべからずnever forget how you began
Never forget the spirit you started with.
A proverb. 忘る is the old 忘れる.
働かざる者食うべからずno work, no food
He who does not work shall not eat.
働かざる者 is 働かない者.
芝生に入るべからずkeep off the grass
Keep off the grass.
The classic park sign.
欠くべからざるindispensable
The team cannot do without him.
The commonest べからざる. People say 欠かせない.
許すべからざるunforgivable
For a politician, it is conduct that can never be forgiven.
People say 許せない.
In use
Power must not be used for private gain.
That was something a leader should never have said.
口にする → 口にすべからざる.
In your own words it is a joke
Sounds odd: 私の
Thou shalt not eat my pudding.
A note on the fridge, for a laugh. Plainly, 食べないで.
The other べ forms
All come from べし, the old word behind べきだ. Each means something different.
べくN1
"In order to": the ために of formal writing.
The government established an expert panel in order to rebuild regional medical services.
べくしてN1
"As was bound to", with the same verb before and after it.
After all her training and preparation, she won, as she was bound to.
べくもないN1
"No way to", after a few verbs such as 望む and 知る.
As things stand, total victory is out of the question.
べきだN3
"Should": the everyday one, which you already know.
Experts should honestly admit what they don't know.
Close neighbours
てはならないN2
The "must not" of today's laws and rule books.
No one may enter the storage room without permission.
禁止N4
The "forbidden" of today's signs. It comes straight after the thing you must not do, usually with no verb.
ぬ・ざるN2
ざる on other verbs: the old ない before a noun.
This is a fact that is not yet known to the world.
あるまじきN1
As stern, and before a noun too: conduct that does not fit someone's role.
Insulting a student is no way for a teacher to behave.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
関係者以外、
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this mean?
彼女は
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
No one other than authorized personnel may open this door.
Public records must not be altered for personal reasons.
It is a warning sign that must never be overlooked.