禁止no …; not allowed
禁止 is "forbidden". On a sign it comes straight after the thing you must not do, usually with no verb: 駐車禁止, "no parking".
said aloud
Excuse me, you can't take photos here.
as a verb
Swimming in this river is not allowed.
How to form it
Noun + 禁止
The noun is usually a word for doing something: 駐車 (parking), 撮影 (taking photos). On a sign nothing comes between the two.
Signs you will see
| Sign | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| 立入禁止 | No entry; keep out |
| 関係者以外立入禁止 | Staff only |
| 駐車禁止 | No parking |
| 駐輪禁止 | No bicycle parking |
| 撮影禁止 | No photography |
| 飲食禁止 | No eating or drinking |
| 使用禁止 | Do not use |
| 禁煙 | No smoking |
| 火気厳禁 | No open flames |
| 土足厳禁 | No outdoor shoes |
禁 is "forbid", and it is in all of them. 禁煙 adds 煙, smoke. 厳禁 is "strictly forbidden", stronger than 禁止: 火気厳禁 where fire is a danger, 土足厳禁 where shoes must come off.
Said aloud
People say the same thing as a sentence: the rule with です, or a request with ないでください.
In conversation a thing can come before 禁止 too.
Phones aren't allowed at my school.
As a verb: 禁止する
禁止する is "to ban": someone bans something, with を. Without saying who, it is 禁止されている, "is not allowed", and what is banned takes は or が.
The school doesn't allow its students to have part-time jobs.
Fireworks are not allowed in this park.
Close neighbours
以外N4
"Other than". 関係者以外立入禁止 is no entry to anyone other than the people concerned. English says who may go in.
ご遠慮くださいN4
The softer wording shops and stations often choose: "please refrain".
Please refrain from smoking here.
Check yourself
1This sign is in a parking lot. Who may park there?
関係者以外
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
この
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
Signs also write 立ち入り禁止, with the kana in: the same word.
More sentences
It says "No smoking" here.
We will make this a nonsmoking room.
Because the road is narrow, large vehicles are not allowed to use it.