must not; cannot; should not~ (てはならない) – Japanese Grammar てはならない (tewa naranai)

Q: What JLPT level is てはならない?

JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Q: How do you use てはならない in a sentence?

Attach てはならない to the appropriate verb or noun form. Must not; cannot; should not~

Q: Is てはならない formal or casual Japanese?

てはならない is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

てはならない

N2 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

tewa naranai

must not; cannot; should not~

ものではない mono dewa nai せいか sei ka 上は ue wa につき ni tsuki かえって kaette に限る ni kagiru それなのに sore na noni 及び oyobi にも関わらず nimo kakawarazu ことに koto ni 再び futatabi 全く～ない mattaku~nai いきなり ikinari からすると kara suru to それにしても sore ni shitemo はともかく wa tomokaku ことなく koto naku げ ge に相違ない ni soui nai につけ ni tsuke ものではない mono dewa nai せいか sei ka 上は ue wa につき ni tsuki かえって kaette に限る ni kagiru それなのに sore na noni 及び oyobi にも関わらず nimo kakawarazu ことに koto ni 再び futatabi 全く～ない mattaku~nai いきなり ikinari からすると kara suru to それにしても sore ni shitemo はともかく wa tomokaku ことなく koto naku げ ge に相違ない ni soui nai につけ ni tsuke

🃏 Flashcard

てはならない

tewa naranai

Tap to reveal usage

must not; cannot; should not~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N2

Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Reading tewa naranai

Post ID 51157

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

must not; cannot; should not~

📖 How to use it

Expresses a strong prohibition or something that must not be done, often with a sense of moral or social obligation.

Attaches to Attach to the て-form of a verb, then add はならない. For な-adjectives and nouns, use ではならない (but this is less common; typically であってはならない). For verbs, the て-form must be used, not the dictionary form or ます-stem.

This pattern is used to state that something is absolutely not allowed or should never be done. It carries a strong, often moral or societal weight, similar to saying "must not" or "cannot be allowed" in English. It is more formal and emphatic than てはいけない, and is often found in rules, laws, or written guidelines, though it can be used in speech to express strong personal conviction.

You will frequently encounter this pattern in set phrases like 言ってはならない (must not say), 忘れてはならない (must not forget), or 見てはならない (must not look). The は adds a contrastive nuance, emphasizing that the action is particularly forbidden. In everyday conversation, it might sound a bit stiff; people often use てはいけない or ちゃだめ instead.

Note that はならない literally means "does not become," so the pattern implies that if you do that action, things will not be right — it is not merely a rule, but a fundamental principle.

この書類を他人に見せてはならない。

Kono shorui o tanin ni misete wa naranai.

You must not show this document to others.

電車の中で大きな声で話してはならない。

Densha no naka de ooki na koe de hanashite wa naranai.

You must not speak loudly on the train.

約束を忘れてはならない。

Yakusoku o wasurete wa naranai.

You must never forget your promise.

Not てはいけない Both mean "must not," but てはならない is more formal and carries a stronger sense of moral obligation or absolute prohibition, often used in rules or written statements. てはいけない is more common in daily conversation and sounds less severe.

Register Formal and literary; often used in written rules, policies, and public notices, but also in speeches or serious statements. In casual conversation, it may sound overly stiff.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

てはならない

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat てはならない three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using てはならない. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns

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てはいられない

can’t afford to; unable to~

ては～ては

repetitive situations/actions

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern てはならない mean? ▼

Must not; cannot; should not~

What JLPT level is てはならない? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use てはならない in a sentence? ▼

Attach てはならない (tewa naranai) 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 てはならない formal or casual Japanese? ▼

てはならない is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember てはならない long-term? ▼

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 later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.