取り締まる

とりしまる

to crack down, to control, to supervise

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 取り締まる (とりしまる) means "to crack down," "to control," or "to supervise" with a strong sense of enforcing rules or laws. It is often used in contexts involving authorities like police or organizations managing compliance.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see 取り締まる used when talking about law enforcement cracking down on illegal activities such as illegal parking, drug trafficking, or workplace rule enforcement.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 違法行為を取り締まる: to crack down on illegal acts
  • 交通違反を取り締まる: to control traffic violations
  • 勤務時間を取り締まる: to supervise working hours

These collocations emphasize strict control or supervision.

Register and Nuance

This verb carries a formal and authoritative tone, suitable for official or serious contexts. It is not casual and implies strict enforcement rather than casual oversight.

Common Learner Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 取り締まる with more general verbs like 管理する (to manage) or 監督する (to supervise). However, 取り締まる specifically implies strict enforcement or crackdown, often with legal or disciplinary authority.

Example Sentences

けいさつはいほうちゅうしゃをきびしくとりしまっている。

The police are strictly cracking down on illegal parking.

かいしゃはしゃいんのきんむじかんをしっかりとりしまっている。

The company strictly supervises employees' working hours.

せいふはいほうやくぶつのりゅうつうをとりしまるためにあたらしいほうりつをせいていした。

The government enacted new laws to crack down on the distribution of illegal drugs.