====== jìnzhǐ: 禁止 - Prohibit, Forbid, Ban ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** jinzhi, 禁止, prohibit, forbid, ban, Chinese for not allowed, what does jinzhi mean, Chinese rules, Chinese signs, HSK 4 vocabulary, don't do in Chinese, Chinese regulations
  * **Summary:** The Chinese term 禁止 (jìnzhǐ) is a formal verb meaning "to prohibit," "to forbid," or "to ban." It is primarily used in official contexts, such as on public signs, in legal documents, and company regulations to state that an action is not allowed. Understanding 禁止 (jìnzhǐ) is key to navigating public spaces and formal rules in China, as it communicates a clear and non-negotiable instruction from an authority.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jìnzhǐ
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To prohibit or forbid an action, typically by an authority.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of `禁止` as the official "No" or "Prohibited." You won't use it to tell a friend "Don't touch my phone." Instead, you'll see it on signs in a museum saying "No Photography" or in a contract stating certain actions are banned. It's a strong, impersonal, and formal word that establishes a rule.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **禁 (jìn):** This character means "to prohibit" or "to forbid." It is composed of two parts: 林 (lín), meaning "forest," and 示 (shì), which is related to altars or showing/revealing. Historically, it may have referred to sacred, restricted groves or areas that were taboo to enter.
  * **止 (zhǐ):** This character is a pictogram of a foot (趾) and means "to stop." It visually represents the act of halting movement.
  * When combined, **禁止 (jìnzhǐ)** literally means "prohibit and stop." This pairing creates a powerful and unambiguous command to cease a particular activity, reinforcing its role as a formal prohibition.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * `禁止` is a direct reflection of the importance of public order, rules, and social harmony in Chinese culture. It is a top-down communication from an authority (e.g., the government, a company, property management) to the general public, and it is expected to be obeyed without question. The widespread use of `禁止` on signs underscores a societal value for clear boundaries and regulated public behavior to ensure a smooth-functioning environment.
  * **Comparison to Western Culture:** In English, we use a variety of phrases like "No Smoking," "Do Not Enter," or "Prohibited." `禁止` is the formal equivalent of "Prohibited" or "Forbidden." However, a key difference is that `禁止` is almost exclusively used in these impersonal, regulatory contexts. In English, "forbidden" can carry a dramatic or personal connotation (e.g., "a forbidden romance"). `禁止` lacks this emotional weight; it is purely a statement of a rule. For informal, personal requests like "Don't do that," a Chinese speaker would use `别 (bié)` or `不要 (búyào)`, never `禁止`.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * `禁止` is most commonly encountered in written form on signs, notices, and official documents.
  * **Public Signage:** This is the most common use. You will see signs like `禁止吸烟` (No Smoking) and `禁止停车` (No Parking) everywhere from restaurants to subway stations.
  * **Rules and Regulations:** Company handbooks, park rules, and legal statutes frequently use `禁止` to list disallowed activities. For example, a library's rules might state `图书馆内禁止吃东西` (Eating is prohibited inside the library).
  * **Formality:** It is always formal and impersonal. Using it in casual conversation would sound very strange, overly dramatic, or even comical.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 此处**禁止**吸烟。
    * Pinyin: Cǐchù **jìnzhǐ** xīyān.
    * English: Smoking is prohibited here.
    * Analysis: This is a classic example you would see on a sign in a public place like a restaurant, office building, or hospital. It's a standard, formal notice.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 为了安全，施工现场**禁止**入内。
    * Pinyin: Wèile ānquán, shīgōng xiànchǎng **jìnzhǐ** rùnèi.
    * English: For safety reasons, entry to the construction site is forbidden.
    * Analysis: This sentence explains the reason for the prohibition, which is common on warning signs. `禁止入内` (jìnzhǐ rùnèi) means "No Entry."
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 博物馆里**禁止**使用闪光灯拍照。
    * Pinyin: Bówùguǎn lǐ **jìnzhǐ** shǐyòng shǎnguāngdēng pāizhào.
    * English: Using flash photography is prohibited inside the museum.
    * Analysis: This specifies a particular action that is banned within a certain location. It's a common rule in places that want to protect artifacts or maintain a certain atmosphere.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 法律**禁止**任何形式的歧视。
    * Pinyin: Fǎlǜ **jìnzhǐ** rènhé xíngshì de qíshì.
    * English: The law prohibits any form of discrimination.
    * Analysis: This example demonstrates the use of `禁止` in a legal context, showing its high level of formality and authority.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 考试期间**禁止**交头接耳。
    * Pinyin: Kǎoshì qījiān **jìnzhǐ** jiāotóujiē'ěr.
    * English: Whispering and cheating are forbidden during the exam.
    * Analysis: `交头接耳` is an idiom for whispering or talking secretly. This shows `禁止` used with an idiomatic phrase in the context of official rules (school/exam rules).
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 本区域**禁止**乱扔垃圾，违者罚款。
    * Pinyin: Běn qūyù **jìnzhǐ** luàn rēng lājī, wéizhě fákuǎn.
    * English: Littering is prohibited in this area. Violators will be fined.
    * Analysis: This notice not only states the prohibition but also the consequence of breaking the rule, making the instruction even stronger.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 公司规定，上班时间**禁止**玩手机游戏。
    * Pinyin: Gōngsī guīdìng, shàngbān shíjiān **jìnzhǐ** wán shǒujī yóuxì.
    * English: Company policy prohibits playing mobile games during work hours.
    * Analysis: This illustrates how `禁止` is used in corporate or organizational policies to enforce workplace discipline.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 湖边立着一块牌子，上面写着“**禁止**游泳”。
    * Pinyin: Hú biān lìzhe yīkuài páizi, shàngmiàn xiězhe "**jìnzhǐ** yóuyǒng".
    * English: There is a sign by the lake that says "No Swimming."
    * Analysis: This sentence describes the sign itself, a common way learners might talk about seeing a `禁止` notice.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 政府发布了新规定，**禁止**销售一次性塑料袋。
    * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ fābùle xīn guīdìng, **jìnzhǐ** xiāoshòu yīcìxìng sùliào dài.
    * English: The government issued a new regulation, banning the sale of single-use plastic bags.
    * Analysis: Here, `禁止` is used to mean "to ban" in the context of a government policy or law affecting commerce.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 出于版权保护，**禁止**录音和录像。
    * Pinyin: Chūyú bǎnquán bǎohù, **jìnzhǐ** lùyīn hé lùxiàng.
    * English: For copyright protection, audio and video recording are prohibited.
    * Analysis: This is a typical announcement or sign you would see at a concert, movie theater, or performance.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **The Biggest Mistake: Using `禁止` in Casual Conversation.**
    * English speakers often want to translate "don't" directly. However, using `禁止` to tell a person what to do is incorrect and sounds unnatural.
    * **Incorrect:** 你朋友想抽烟，你说：“我**禁止**你在这里抽烟！” (Nǐ péngyǒu xiǎng chōuyān, nǐ shuō: "Wǒ **jìnzhǐ** nǐ zài zhèlǐ chōuyān!") This sounds like you are a dictator.
    * **Correct (Informal):** “请**不要**在这里抽烟。” (Qǐng **búyào** zài zhèlǐ chōuyān. - "Please don't smoke here.") or more directly, “**别**抽烟！” (**Bié** chōuyān! - "Don't smoke!")
    * **Rule of Thumb:** If you are speaking directly to a person in a casual or semi-formal situation, use `不要 (búyào)` or `别 (bié)`. If you are writing a sign or a formal rule, use `禁止`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[严禁]] (yánjìn) - Strictly prohibit. This is an even stronger, more severe version of `禁止`, often used for rules related to safety and security.
  * [[不准]] (bù zhǔn) - Not allowed; forbidden. Similar to `禁止` but can sometimes be used by a person in a position of authority (e.g., a parent to a child, a boss to an employee) more directly than `禁止`.
  * [[不得]] (bùdé) - Must not; may not. This is a very formal term used almost exclusively in legal texts, contracts, and written regulations. It's less common on public signs.
  * [[别]] (bié) - Don't. This is the most common informal, imperative negative. Used in everyday speech to tell someone not to do something.
  * [[不要]] (búyào) - Don't. Another very common informal, imperative negative. Interchangeable with `别` in most cases.
  * [[允许]] (yǔnxǔ) - To permit, to allow. The direct antonym of `禁止`.
  * [[规定]] (guīdìng) - Regulation, rule; to stipulate. A regulation is often the source of a `禁止` instruction.
  * [[警告]] (jǐnggào) - A warning. Warning signs often appear alongside `禁止` notices.