Meaning and Usage
"禁止" (きんし) means "prohibition" or "ban." It is a formal noun often used in official or public contexts to indicate that something is not allowed.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "禁止" in signs, rules, and regulations, such as "喫煙禁止" (no smoking) or "駐車禁止" (no parking). It is used to clearly state that an action or behavior is forbidden.
Collocations and Patterns
- "～が禁止されている" (something is prohibited): Used to describe rules or laws forbidding an action.
- "使用禁止" (use prohibited): Common phrase for banning the use of something.
- "立ち入り禁止" (no entry): Used to prohibit entering a place.
Register and Politeness
"禁止" is neutral to formal and often appears in written notices or formal speech. It is not casual.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "禁止" with "だめ" or "いけない," which are more casual ways to say "not allowed." "禁止" is stronger and more official, so use it in formal contexts or written rules.