Japanese word

禁物

Pronunciation

Romajikinmotsu

Meaning

  • nounsomething to avoid

Example

大事な話で冗談を言うのは禁物です。dai ji na hanashi de jō dan o i u no wa kin motsu de su

Joking during an important talk is something to avoid.

Illustration for 禁物 (something to avoid)

More examples

試験前は、夜更かしが禁物です。shi ken mae wa yo fu ka shi ga kin motsu de su

Staying up late is something to avoid before an exam.

Core concept

Marks an action or attitude as something that should be avoided in a particular situation.

Common phrases

  • 無理は禁物mu ri wa kin motsu

    overexertion is something to avoid

  • 油断は禁物yu dan wa kin motsu

    carelessness is something to avoid

  • 冗談は禁物jō dan wa kin motsu

    jokes are something to avoid

Similar words

御法度gohatto: Something that rules or customs strictly prohibit.
禁忌kinki: Something regarded as forbidden or harmful and therefore avoided.
タブーtabū: Something that a society or group considers unacceptable to discuss or do.

Definition in Japanese

ある場面でしてはいけないこと。a ru ba men de shi te wa i ke na i ko to

Word origin

禁 (kin, "prohibition") + 物 (motsu, "thing") forms 禁物 (kinmotsu), literally "a prohibited thing" and then something to avoid.

Usage tips

  • 禁物 (kinmotsu) can describe not only an action but also a quality such as 焦り (aseri, "haste") when that quality harms a situation.

Other meanings

  • taboonoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word