てはいけない
🃏 Flashcard
てはいけない
te wa ikenai
Tap to reveal usage
must not; may not; cannot
N5
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
te wa ikenai
Post ID
50670
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
must not; may not; cannot
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
てはいけない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat てはいけない three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using てはいけない. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern てはいけない mean?
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Must not; may not; cannot
What JLPT level is てはいけない?
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JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. To pass JLPT N5 you need to recognise and use this pattern correctly in reading and listening sections.
How do you use てはいけない in a sentence?
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Attach てはいけない (te wa ikenai) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is てはいけない formal or casual Japanese?
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てはいけない is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember てはいけない long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review at 10 minutes, 1 day and 3 days (spaced repetition). Writing two original sentences at each review session is the fastest way to reach production-level mastery.