Don't!: 〜な
Dictionary form + な
Dictionary form + な: “don't!”, a blunt ban (signs, emergencies, quotations). In polite conversation: 〜ないで ください.
In short
Dictionary form + な: a direct ban, “don't!”. 入るな (keep out), さわるな (don't touch). It's the negative counterpart of the imperative, just as blunt: signs, orders, slogans.
- 入るなはいるなNo entry.
- さわるな！さわるな！Don't touch!
- ここで たばこを 吸うな。ここで たばこを すうな。Don't smoke here.
- 父は 「あきらめるな」と 言いました。ちちは 「あきらめるな」と いいました。My father told me, “Don't give up!”
The basics
To forbid something point-blank, attach な to the dictionary form. It's very short and very curt: the equivalent of “No…” on a sign, or a shouted “Don't touch!”. Much harsher than an ordinary English “don't”.
Don't touch!
- verb
- particle
- わすれるな！わすれるな！Don't forget!
How to form it
No conjugation: every verb, whatever its group, keeps the dictionary form and takes な.
| Verb | Ban | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 行く | 行くな | don't go! |
| 食べる | 食べるな | don't eat! |
| する | するな | don't do that! |
| 来る | 来るな | don't come! |
- こっちに 来るな！こっちに くるな！Stay away from me!
- 心配するな。だいじょうぶだ。しんぱいするな。だいじょうぶだ。Don't worry. It'll be all right.
All the ways to forbid
As with commands, there's a scale. 〜な is right at the bottom, at the level of the imperative. 〜ては いけない (N5) states a rule.
| Form | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜な | blunt ban | 入るな |
| 〜ないで | casual | 入らないで |
| 〜ないで ください | polite | 入らないで ください |
| 〜ては いけません | rule, prohibition | 入っては いけません |
- ここに 入っては いけません。ここに はいっては いけません。You're not allowed to come in here.
Watch out for the other な
Final な has other uses. After an ordinary sentence, it expresses a feeling you're telling yourself: いい 天気だな (“what lovely weather”). And stem + な (行きな, 食べな) is a casual, rather friendly order: “go on”, “eat up”. Compare: 行くな (don't go) / 行きな (go on).
- いい 天気だな。いい てんきだな。What lovely weather.
- 早く 食べな。はやく たべな。Eat up, quick. (casual)
Common mistakes
- Attaching な to the ます-form (“行きますな”): it's always the dictionary form, 行くな.
- Mixing up 行くな (don't go) and 行きな (go on, casual).
- Using it with an adult stranger: it's very blunt. Say 〜ないで ください.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N4 point is on the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line (Health) of the Osaka subway.