jìnzhǐ: 禁止 - Prohibit, Forbid, Ban

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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.

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.

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.

`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`.

`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.

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.