Structure
Verb + べからず
Exceptions:
する → す(1) + べからず
Verb + べからざる + Noun
which is generally limited to:
許すべからざる + Noun
ありうべからざる + Noun
欠くべからざる + Noun
(1) する
Details
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Formal
使用域
硬い
Rare Kanji
可からず
About べからず
べからず, and べからざる are two formal expressions used to convey the meaning of 'must not (A)', or 'ought not to (A)'. It is a combination of the helper-conjugation form of the auxiliary verb べし, べから, and the classical auxiliary verb ず 'not'. ざる itself is just the helper-conjugation form of ず, meaning that the nuance remains exactly the same. In this way, we can see that the literal meaning of 'ought not (A)' exhibits some sort of moral or logical obligation, as is true for all uses of べき derived patterns.
べからず and べからざる will be seen following verbs in their dictionary forms. べからざる will be followed by a noun, indicating that the noun is being modified by the phrase.
べからず and べからざる will be seen following verbs in their dictionary forms. べからざる will be followed by a noun, indicating that the noun is being modified by the phrase.
-
ことわざ:「初心忘れるべからず。」Proverb: 'Do not forget beginner's humility.'
- この施設内ではスケートボードなどのことをするべからず。You must not skateboard or anything similar in this facility.
- 配達員を装って玄関のドアを開けさせるのは、許すべからざる行為だ。Making someone open the door, by pretending to be a delivery person is an act that is not to be forgiven.
- 吸うべからざる場所でタバコを吸っているのを見られたら、1000円払うことになります。If you are seen smoking in an area where you must not smoke, you will end up having to pay 1000 yen.
Caution
The べからざる form that combines with nouns is usually only seen in a few set variations. These are 許すべからざる 'cannot be forgiven', ありうべからざる 'must not exist' (impossible), and 欠くべからざる 'must not be without'.Synonyms
Examples
公園の看板:「芝生にゴミ捨てるべからず」
A signboard at the park: 'Do not dump rubbish on the lawn'
空気は生きるに欠くべからざるものだ。
Air is essential to life. (Must not lack air)
欠くべからざるA literally means '(A) that cannot be missing'.
ブログ記事:「英語で上手にフォーマルな手紙を書くための「べし・べからず」集」
Blog post: 'Dos and Don'ts for writing a formal letter in English skillfully.'
べし, べからず is a phrase meaning 'dos and don'ts'.
もろい歴史的建造物の手前の看板:「中に入るべからず」
A signboard in front of the fragile historic building: 'Do not enter inside'
小説:「さだおさんがなにゆえそのような許すべからざる大罪を犯したのか、ゆうささんは解できなかった。」
Novel: 'Yusa-san couldn't understand why did Sadao-san commit such an unpardonable crime.' (a crime that cannot be forgiven)
許すべからざるA literally means '(A) that one cannot forgive'. (A) is usually noun like 行為 or 罪 and so on.
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べからず – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
darkhelmet
I found that this grammar point was referenced in Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar p. 29, instead of Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar p. 29.
mrnoone
@darkhelmet
Thank you for the feedback!I have fixed the error, Cheers!
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