Translation guide
The English verb "forbid" means to officially or authoritatively prohibit someone from doing something or to make something impossible. In Japanese, the most common and versatile equivalent is 禁じる (kinjiru), but other expressions like 禁止する (kinshi suru) and 許さない (yurusanai) are used depending on context, formality, and nuance. This guide covers how to express prohibition naturally in Japanese.
To say that someone is not allowed to do something, often by rule, law, or authority.
The most direct and common verb for 'forbid'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese. Often appears in the passive form 禁じられている (kinjirarete iru) to state that something is forbidden.
ここでの喫煙は禁じられています。
Smoking is forbidden here.
校則で携帯電話の使用を禁じている。
The school rules forbid the use of mobile phones.
A more formal or official term, often used in rules, signs, and legal contexts. It is a suru-verb and can sound bureaucratic.
法律で未成年の飲酒は禁止されている。
Underage drinking is forbidden by law.
この公園では花火が禁止されています。
Fireworks are forbidden in this park.
Literally 'not forgive/permit', used when someone in authority (parent, boss) forbids an action. Stronger emotional nuance than 禁じる.
父は私が夜遅く出かけるのを許さなかった。
My father forbade me from going out late at night.
A common grammatical pattern meaning 'must not do'. Used in everyday speech to forbid actions. The plain form is 〜てはいけない, and the polite form is 〜てはいけません.
ここで写真を撮ってはいけません。
You must not take photos here. (Photography is forbidden here.)
嘘をついてはいけない。
You must not tell lies.
To say that circumstances or conditions make something impossible or prevent it from happening.
Used for situations where circumstances do not allow something. Often with inanimate subjects.
時間がそれを許さなかった。
Time did not permit it. (Time forbade it.)
私の立場がそんな発言を許さない。
My position forbids such remarks.
Simply means 'cannot do', often used when external factors prevent an action. Less formal than 許さない.
この天気では出発できない。
This weather forbids departure. (We cannot depart in this weather.)
To express that a person in authority (parent, teacher, boss) forbids someone from a specific action.
Pattern: Person に Action を禁じる. Used when a person forbids another person from doing something.
医者は私に飲酒を禁じた。
The doctor forbade me from drinking alcohol.
先生は生徒たちに教室での飲食を禁じた。
The teacher forbade the students from eating and drinking in the classroom.
Pattern: Person に Action を許さない. Stronger, more emotional. Often used by parents or strict authority figures.
母は私に門限を破ることを許さなかった。
My mother forbade me from breaking curfew.
To express a strong wish that something does not happen, often used in set phrases.
Literally 'such a thing must not happen'. Used to express 'God forbid' or 'heaven forbid'.
彼が事故に遭うなんて、そんなことがあってはならない。
God forbid he should have an accident.
An interjection meaning 'No way!' or 'God forbid!'. Used to strongly deny an undesirable possibility.
まさか、彼がそんなことをするはずがない。
God forbid, he would never do such a thing.
禁じる (kinjiru) is the most general and neutral verb for 'forbid'. 禁止する (kinshi suru) is more formal and official, often seen on signs and in legal documents. 許さない (yurusanai) implies a personal, often emotional, refusal to permit something, and can be used for both people and circumstances.
この区域での釣りは禁じられている。
Fishing is forbidden in this area. (neutral statement)
この区域での釣りは禁止されています。
Fishing is prohibited in this area. (official sign)
父は私が釣りに行くのを許さなかった。
My father forbade me from going fishing. (personal authority)
Avoid directly translating 'forbid someone to do' as 〜するために禁じる. Instead, use the patterns 〜に〜を禁じる or 〜が〜するのを禁じる.
彼は私が行くのを禁じた。
He forbade me to go.