Japanese word

だめ

Pronunciation

Romajidame

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveno good

Example

これはだめです。ko re wa da me de su

This is no good.

Illustration for だめ (no good)

More examples

このえんぴつはだめです。ko no e n pi tsu wa da me de su

This pencil is no good.

何度試しても、うまくいかないので、もうだめです。nan do tame shi te mo u ma ku i ka na i no de mō da me de su

Even after repeated attempts, it still doesn't work, so it's no good.

Core concept

Shows that something fails to meet the needed condition, whether it is broken, unacceptable, or forbidden.

Common phrases

  • もうだめmō da me

    It's no good

  • だめになるda me ni na ru

    become unusable

  • だめな状態da me na jō tai

    a bad condition

Similar words

無理muri: Shows that a plan, request, or attempt cannot be carried out.
不適切futekisetsu: Describes something unsuitable for its purpose or situation.
不可能fukanō: Describes something that cannot occur or be achieved.

Definition in Japanese

求められる状態にならず、使えない、認められない、または許されないこと。moto me ra re ru jō tai ni na ra zu tsuka e na i mito me ra re na i ma ta wa yuru sa re na i ko to

Word origin

The word だめ (dame) derives from 駄目 (dame, "no value"), a Go expression for a point with no benefit, and extended to things that do not work or are not permitted.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, だめ (dame) often works as a short judgment such as "no good," while だめです (dame desu) can also refuse permission politely.

Other meanings

  • not allowedna-adjective
  • brokenna-adjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word