～な（禁止）

How to form it

• Verb (dictionary form) + な
• する → するな; 来る → 来るな

Register: Rough, abrupt; used in orders, signs and by men in anger

Explanation

A strong command not to do something.

It is blunt and sounds rude in everyday speech. It appears on signs (触るな) and in quoted speech.

Examples

1. ここに入るな！

   ここにはいるな！

   Don't come in here!

2. この箱に触るな！

   このはこにさわるな！

   Don't touch this box!

3. 約束を忘れるな！

   やくそくをわすれるな！

   Don't forget your promise!

Compare with

• 命令形: The imperative gives a positive order.
• ～ないでください: ～ないでください is a polite request.

Common mistakes

• Using it in polite conversation.
• Confusing it with the sentence-final particle な (行くな as 'it's going, isn't it?').