いけない
ikenai
The English phrase "must not" is expressed in Japanese using いけない (ikenai).
いけない is used to state that an action is forbidden or not allowed.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express "must not", you must use the te-form of a verb followed by はいけない. In casual speech, いけない is often replaced by だめ to create the structure 〜てはだめだ.
How do you pronounce it?
ikenai
Did you know?
- The word いけない originates from the potential form of 'to go' 行く, literally meaning 'cannot go' or 'cannot proceed'. It evolved from describing a path that is blocked to describing an action that is socially or morally forbidden.
- When someone makes a mistake or trips, a Japanese speaker might exclaim いけない! as a reflexive 'Oops!' or 'Oh no!' In this context, it is not a prohibition but an expression of sudden regret.
- While いけない is a standard way to express a prohibition, using it with a superior can sound like you are lecturing them or telling them what they are not allowed to do.
Examples in context
- 夜更かしはいけないな。You must not stay up late.This sentence shows how to use いけない to prohibit staying up late.Tatoeba #79692 by bunbuku, translation #324026 by CK
- 学校に遅刻してはいけない。You must not be late for school.This sentence uses いけない to say one must not be late for school.Tatoeba #184455 by bunbuku, translation #21583 by CK
- 仕事中は喫煙してはいけない。You must not smoke while working.This sentence uses いけない to express that smoking is forbidden while working.Tatoeba #169019 by arnab, translation #245468 by CM
- 私はそれを食べてはいけません。I must not eat that.
- それを食べてはいけないよ。You must not eat that.
- 彼に連絡してはだめだよ。You must not contact him.
- 彼女はその機械に触ってはいけません。She must not touch the equipment.
- このエリアに入ってはいけない。You must not enter this area.
- 映画中に話してはだめです。They must not talk during the movie.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a museum, a young man is talking to his younger sister.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、展示物に触れてはいけないよ。Yui, tenjibutsu ni furete wa ikenai yo.Yui, you must not touch the exhibits.
- 結衣 Yuiごめんね、大翔兄ちゃん。Gomen ne, Hiroto niichan.Sorry, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hiroto静かにしないといけないよ。Shizuka ni shinai to ikenai yo.You have to be quiet.
- 結衣 Yuiわかった、気をつけるね。Wakatta, ki o tsukeru ne.Okay, I'll be careful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries いけない, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
