Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 6: 13/13

な (Prohibitive)

Do not, Don't (Prohibitive)

Structure

Verb + な

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Sentence Ending Particle

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    助詞

  • 単語の種類

    終助詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About な

な is classified as a sentence ending particle in Japanese. When attached to the base (dictionary) form of a verb, it has the nuance of strongly demanding that someone 'not' do something.

Examples

  • 行(い)くな。

    Don't go.

    • ここでサッカーをするな。

      Don't play soccer here.

      • 泣(な)くな。

        Don't cry.

        • 一人(ひとり)でするな。

          Don't do it alone.

          • 「これは不味(まず)い！」って言(い)うな。

            Don't say, 'This tastes bad!'

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            • Online

            • Offline

              • みんなの日本語 II

                Page 54 [CH 33]

              • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

                Page 46 & 266

              • Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide

                Page 183

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            な – Grammar Discussion

            Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

            • znic1998

              znic1998

              Hey! I’m back with more questions. Based on the example sentence it seems that this can only be used with verbs in their dictionary form. I am correct with making that assumption. I’m assuming there will grammar later to cover more imperatives but I just want to be sure.

            • FredKore

              FredKore

              That’s correct. The negative imperative is (plain verb)-な.
              The positive imperative is either (う-verb, え-ending) or (る-verb stem + ろ).

              まつな！ Don’t wait!
              まて！ Wait!

              たべるな！ Don’t eat!
              たべろ！ Eat!

              (I can’t seem to find the Bunpro page for positive imperative though.)

            • znic1998

              znic1998

              Thanks, @FredKore I will ever use it since apparently it is quite rude, but good to know

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