Unit 2 - Section 3: 〜てはいけません

Practice Quiz

てはいけません - Prohibition (Must Not / Cannot)

Learn to express prohibitions and rules using てはいけません. Essential for expressing what is not allowed in Japanese contexts.

Formation Pattern

Pattern: [Verb て-form] + はいけません

Expresses "you must not do something" or "it's not allowed to do something"

Dictionary て-form Prohibition Translation
食べる (taberu) 食べて 食べてはいけません You can't eat
走る (hashiru) 走って 走ってはいけません You can't run
入る (hairu) 入って 入ってはいけません You can't enter
話す (hanasu) 話して 話してはいけません You can't speak
乗る (noru) 乗って 乗ってはいけません You can't ride

Related Prohibition Patterns

Alternative Negative Form:

Pattern: [Verb ない-form] + ではいけません

  • 忘れてはいけません = 忘れないではいけません (you must not forget)
  • 寝ないではいけません (you must sleep) - note: double negative = positive obligation
Different Degrees of Prohibition:
  • ～てはだめです - "You can't/must not" (less formal)
  • ～てはいけません - "You mustn't" (standard formal)
  • ～たら悪い - "It would be bad if..." (emphatic)

Common Rules and Prohibitions

In Schools:
  • 授業中に寝てはいけません。 - "You can't sleep during class."
  • 携帯電話を使ってはいけません。 - "You can't use cell phones."
In Hospitals/Medical:
  • ここで食べてはいけません。 - "You can't eat here."
  • 大きな声を出してはいけません。 - "You can't speak loudly."
In General:
  • ここに駐車してはいけません。 - "You can't park here."
  • 危険ですから入ってはいけません。 - "It's dangerous, so you can't enter."

Real-World Examples

図書館としょかんでは走はしってはいけません。
[Toshokan de wa hashitte wa ikemasen]
Translation: You can't run in the library.
電車でんしゃの中なかで大おおきな声こえを出だしてはいけません。
[Densha no naka de ookina koe wo dashite wa ikemasen]
Translation: You can't speak loudly inside the train.
大事だいじな約束やくそくを忘わすれてはいけません。
[Daiji na yakusoku wo wasure te wa ikemasen]
Translation: You must not forget important promises.

Study Tips

Master Prohibitions:
  • Main pattern: ～てはいけません = "you must not / you can't"
  • Emphasis: ～ては絶対だめです = absolutely can't
  • Common contexts: Rules, warnings, prohibitions
  • Remember: Formal and polite way to express prohibitions
  • Practice: Write workplace and school rules using this pattern
Course Navigation
Study Tips
  • Read each example carefully
  • Practice pronunciation aloud
  • Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
  • Finish the section quiz