Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 7: 7/17

べからず

Do not, Must not, Should not, Cannot (べからざる)

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(ゆる)すべからざる + Noun
ありうべからざる + Noun
欠(か)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.
  • ことわざ：「初心(しょしん)忘(わす)れるべからず。」
    Proverb: 'Do not forget beginner's humility.'
  • この施設内(しせつない)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(はいたついん)を装(よそお)って玄関(げんかん)のドアを開(あ)けさせるのは、許(ゆる)すべからざる行為(こうい)だ。
    Making someone open the door, by pretending to be a delivery person is an act that is not to be forgiven.
  • 吸(す)うべからざる場所(ばしょ)でタバコを吸(す)っているのを見(み)られたら、1000円(えん)払(はら)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.
In modern Japanese, the meanings of both of these grammar patterns have shifted slightly from 'obligation', to simply having a strong nuance of 'don't (A)'. In addition to this, they will almost only ever be used on signs or notices.
Caution
The べからざる form that combines with nouns is usually only seen in a few set variations. These are 許(ゆる)すべからざる 'cannot be forgiven', ありうべからざる 'must not exist' (impossible), and 欠(か)くべからざる 'must not be without'.

Examples

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    公園(こうえん)の看板(かんばん)：「芝生(しばふ)にゴミ捨(す)てるべからず」

    A signboard at the park: 'Do not dump rubbish on the lawn'

    空気(くうき)は生(い)きるに欠(か)くべからざるものだ。

    Air is essential to life. (Must not lack air)

    ブログ記事(きじ)：「英語(えいご)で上手(じょうず)にフォーマルな手紙(てがみ)を書(か)くための「べし・べからず」集(しゅう)」

    Blog post: 'Dos and Don'ts for writing a formal letter in English skillfully.'

    もろい歴史的(れきしてき)建造物(けんぞうぶつ)の手前(てまえ)の看板(かんばん)：「中(なか)に入(はい)るべからず」

    A signboard in front of the fragile historic building: 'Do not enter inside'

    小説(しょうせつ)：「さだおさんがなにゆえそのような許(ゆる)すべからざる大罪(だいざい)を犯(おか)したのか、ゆうささんは解(かい)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)

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      べからず – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • darkhelmet

        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

        mrnoone

        @darkhelmet
        Thank you for the feedback!

        I have fixed the error, Cheers!

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