禁きん句く

き

ん

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

taboo word; forbidden topic

A word or topic that is socially or contextually off-limits; common in everyday conversation.

彼かれの前まえで離り婚こんの話はなしは禁きん句くだ。
Talking about divorce is a taboo topic in front of him.
この会かい議ぎでは、給きゅう料りょうの話はなしは禁きん句くになっている。
In this meeting, salary talk is a forbidden topic.

noun

forbidden words (in classical poetry)

Original meaning: words or phrases prohibited in traditional waka and haikai poetry. Now a historical/literary term.

和わ歌かでは「涙なみだ」や「死し」が禁きん句くとされることがあった。
In waka, words like 'tears' and 'death' were sometimes considered forbidden.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉は禁きん句くだX is a taboo topic (not to be brought up)
彼かれの前まえで離り婚こんの話はなしは禁きん句くだ。
The topic of divorce is off-limits in front of him.
〈場ば所しょ〉で〈事こと〉を禁きん句くにするto treat X as a forbidden topic in a certain place/group
この会かい社しゃでは給きゅう料りょうの話はなしを禁きん句くにしている。
At this company, talk of salaries is treated as a forbidden topic.
〈相あい手て〉に〈事こと〉を言いうのは禁きん句くsaying X to someone is taboo
彼かの女じょに年ねん齢れいのことを言いうのは禁きん句くだ。
Bringing up her age is a no-go with her.

Kanji

禁prohibition, ban, forbid
句phrase, clause, sentence

Related words

タブー sense 1
タブー is a broad loanword for any social or cultural taboo, while 禁句 specifically refers to words or topics that must not be mentioned in a given context.
禁きん忌き sense 1
禁忌 is a formal, often religious or medical term for something forbidden, whereas 禁句 is used specifically for words or subjects unsafe to bring up in conversation.

Don't confuse with

禁きん物もつN2sense 1
禁物 refers to actions or things that must be avoided (e.g. 油断は禁物), while 禁句 refers specifically to words or topics one must not say.

Etymology

Compound of 禁 (prohibition) and 句 (phrase). Originally referred to words banned in classical Japanese poetry, later extended to any forbidden word or topic.