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まかりならぬ Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression
not be allowed ; must not
usually written using kana alone
Archaic or highly formal expression meaning something is absolutely not permitted. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts. In modern Japanese, ～てはならない or ～てはいけない are more common.
る
舞ま
い
は
まかり
なら
ぬ
と
、
殿との
は
厳いび
しく
言い
い
渡わた
し
た
。
The lord sternly declared that such behavior must not be tolerated.
Written forms 罷まか り 成な らぬ
Archaic kanji spelling; rarely used in modern Japanese.
罷まか りならぬ
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; also rare.
Similar words ならない Modern standard expression for 'must not' or 'not allowed', used in patterns like ～てはならない. まかりならぬ is an archaic, emphatic version.
いけない Common colloquial expression for prohibition, as in ～てはいけない. まかりならぬ is much more formal and old-fashioned.
Etymology Derived from the verb 罷る (まかる, 'to leave' or 'to go', humble) combined with the negative form of なる (to become), literally 'it does not become (acceptable)'. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it has been used as a strong prohibitive expression since classical Japanese.
