This page covers how to say you’re not allowed to do something in Japanese.
This grammar is essential for daily life; you’ll see it on signs, hear it in rules, and use it when telling someone what they must not do.
This first part covers only verb conjugations, the second part will cover how Na and i-adjectives are conjugated in this form.
👉 Before learning this, I strongly recommend mastering the Te form, since prohibition is directly built on it.
Learn the Te Form (request form) Here.
The Core Structure
To make the negative permission (prohibition) form:
- Conjugate the verb into the Te form.
- Add one of the following endings:
- te dame / te wa dame → casual
- te wa dame desu → polite-casual
- te wa ikimasen → formal / polite
- te wa narimasen → very formal (rules, signs, instructions)
Using “te wa ikimasen” and “te wa narimasen” sound strong / strict. Using “dame” can feel softer, especially with intonation (like parents scolding a kid gently vs. strict rules).
👉 You will always use the wa particle in the more polite forms. In casual speech, the wa can be dropped.
👉 Even more natural variations like cha / ja dame exist for casual speech, but we’ll cover those on another page.
1. Casual Version — te dame (or te wa dame)
- Used with friends, kids, or casual warnings.
- Common in spoken Japanese.
Examples:
- Neru → nete dame – You can’t sleep.
- Tatsu → tatte dame – You can’t stand up.
- Nomu → nonde dame – You can’t drink.
- Kaku → kaite dame – You can’t write.
- Isogu → isoide dame – You can’t rush.
- Kesu → keshite dame – You can’t erase.
Example Sentences:
- Koko de nete dame. – You can’t sleep here.
- Kurasu de sawatte dame. – You can’t touch (things) in class.
- Kore sutete dame yo. – You can’t throw this away!
- Shukudai o wasurete dame. – You can’t forget your homework.
- Soko ni haitte dame. – You can’t go in there.
2. Polite Casual — te wa dame desu
- A step more polite than “te dame.”
- Still casual, but usable with strangers or in softer refusals.
Examples:
- Aru → atte wa dame desu – You can’t have (it).
- Suru → shite wa dame desu – You can’t do (that).
- Nomu → nonde wa dame desu – You can’t drink (it).
- Hashiru → hashitte wa dame desu – You can’t run.
- Fureru → furete wa dame desu – You can’t touch it.
Example Sentences:
- Koko de tabako wo sutte wa dame desu. – You can’t smoke here.
- Kore wa sawatte wa dame desu. – You can’t touch this.
- Koko de shashin wo totte wa dame desu. – You can’t take pictures here.
- Koko ni suwatte wa dame desu. – You can’t sit here.
- Hashitte wa dame desu yo! – No running!
3. Formal Version — te wa ikimasen
- Standard formal version.
- Common in rules, instructions, and polite refusals.
- Particle wa cannot be dropped in this form.
Examples:
- Taberu → tabete wa ikimasen – You must not eat.
- Matsu → matte wa ikimasen – You must not wait.
- Yomu → yonde wa ikimasen – You must not read.
- Asonde → asonde wa ikimasen – You must not play.
- Noru → notte wa ikimasen – You must not ride.
Example Sentences:
- Koko de tabete wa ikimasen. – You must not eat here.
- Koko ni haitte wa ikimasen. – You must not enter here.
- Koko de tabako wo sutte wa ikimasen. – You must not smoke here.
- Gomi wo suteru koto wa ikimasen. – You must not throw away trash here.
- Uso wo tsuite wa ikimasen. – You must not lie.
4. Very Formal Version — te wa narimasen
- Very formal / stiff, used in official signs, rules, and regulations.
- You’ll see this on official documents, workplace rules, or announcements.
Examples:
- Kiku → kiite wa narimasen – You must not listen.
- Oyogu → oyoide wa narimasen – You must not swim.
- Osu → oshite wa narimasen – You must not push.
- Hashiru → hashitte wa narimasen – Running is not allowed.
- Toru → totte wa narimasen – You must not take (it).
Example Sentences:
- Koko de oyoide wa narimasen. – You must not swim here.
- Koko ni haitte wa narimasen. – You must not enter here.
- Shigoto ni osokurete wa narimasen. – You must not be late to work.
- Dōro de asonde wa narimasen. – You must not play on the road.
- Koko de shashin wo totte wa narimasen. – You must not take pictures here.
Quick Summary
Quick Summary
- te dame → casual “you can’t” (friends, kids).
- te wa dame desu → polite-casual “you can’t” (strangers, softer refusals).
- te wa ikimasen → formal prohibition (rules, polite speech).
- te wa narimasen → very formal prohibition (official signs, documents).
👉 In daily life:
- Use te dame (casual speech).
- Use te wa ikimasen (formal rules).
The others are useful to recognize, but you’ll hear those two the most.
🧠 Practice Tips:
- Make flashcards with verbs + their -te forms
- Use ChatGPT to quiz you on which conjugation to use
- Try making your own sentences and get feedback!
🧱 Why I Learn This Way
While I continue learning Japanese and other languages, I also make money online through beermoney apps. It’s not much, but it helps me feel like I’m turning my free time into something more productive and fun.
👇 Check out my glossaries below
💸 Beermoney Glossary:
Curious how much money you can realistically make online from surveys, games, ads, and small tasks? Check out my Beermoney Glossary page, where I break down every app and site I’ve tried with videos, payment proof, and my personal experiences. I always recommend doing beermoney while watching shows, anime, gaming, or handling small tasks around the house.
👉 Beermoney reviews
📈 Monthly Earnings Tracker:
Want to see exactly what I cashed out every month? My Monthly Earnings Tracker has screenshots of my app cashouts, plus updates on my trading and investment accounts, all in one place, month by month.
👉 Monthly earnings
🌍 Language Learning Glossary:
Curious what languages I’m learning? Check out my Language Learning Glossary for weekly progress updates. I post short speaking videos, track my progress, share my personal study notes, and break down the rank criteria I follow.
👉 Language progress