Structure
Verb[て]+ は + いけない
Details
Part of Speech
Verb
Word Type
Auxiliary Verb
Register
Formal
About てはいけない
てはいけない is used in Japanese to express that (A) 'cannot', or 'must not' be done. It is the combination of a verb in て form, the は particle, and the negative potential form of 行く (to be able to go). In this way, it literally means '(A) cannot/is not able to go'.
Although は can be dropped from many phrases and expressions, the は in this particular grammar point is usually not. This is because いけない would then become the second action in a sequence of events (the usual function of て form). However, to make this more casual, ては is often changed to ちゃ (ては becomes ちゃ), or じゃ (では becomes じゃ), as this is easier to say.
Caution
Apart from いけない; ならない and だめ are also frequently used to get across the same meaning. However, they are used in different situations.
いけない - Fairly neutral. Used in both spoken and written language.
ならない - Fairly formal. Used mostly in written language.
だめ - Very casual. Used almost exclusively in spoken language.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
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そこに入ってはいけない。
You must not go in there.
クジラを食べてはいけない。
We must not eat whale.
このビルに入ってはいけない。
You must not go into this building.
晩ごはんの前に、お菓子を食べてはいけない。
You must not eat candy before dinner.
この池で泳いではいけません。
You must not swim in this pond.
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"HAVE TO", "NEED TO" "SHOULD HAVE", "I WISH...HADN'T" in Japanese
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Page 152
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Page 98 [CH 15]
Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai
Page 48
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Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
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[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
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てはいけない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (19 in total)
ResFort
This construction uses the potential form of 行く (行ける, “can go”), not the dictionary form.
So when conjugating it into the negative we get いけない/いけません (行ける itself is an ichidan verb).The literal translation for Aてはいけない is then something like “doing A cannot go”, which is better interpreted as “must not do A”.
GrimeyPlopFlop
Ah, that makes a a lot of sense, thank you!
notasas
The bunpro description states this contains “negative potential form of 行く”, however I’ve just encountered this:
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