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べからず / べからざる
N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today
bekarazu/ bekarazaru
must not; should not; do not ~
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べからず / べからざる
bekarazu/ bekarazaru
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must not; should not; do not ~
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading bekarazu/ bekarazaru
Post ID 51197
Patterns today 0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes

must not; should not; do not ~

📖 How to use it

A stiff, written prohibition meaning 'must not' or 'should not', used in rules, signs, and formal statements.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary (plain) form of the verb. For する, it becomes すべからず (not するべからず). For べからざる, it attaches to the same form and modifies a following noun.

This pattern expresses a strong prohibition or something that should not be done. It is archaic and extremely formal, found mostly in written Japanese such as rules, notices, contracts, or literature. In speech, it sounds unnatural or humorous, so avoid using it in conversation.

べからず is used at the end of a sentence or clause. For example, '入るべからず' means 'Do not enter.' べからざる is the attributive form, meaning it comes before a noun, like '欠くべからざる存在' meaning 'an indispensable presence' (literally, 'a presence that must not be lacking'). Remember that for する verbs, you use す, so '勉強すべからず' is correct, not '勉強するべからず'.

ここに車を止めるべからず。
Koko ni kuruma o tomeru bekarazu.
Do not park your car here.
危険につき、この橋を渡るべからず。
Kiken ni tsuki, kono hashi o wataru bekarazu.
Danger: do not cross this bridge.
彼はこのプロジェクトに欠くべからざる人物だ。
Kare wa kono purojekuto ni kaku bekarazaru jinbutsu da.
He is an indispensable person for this project.
Not べからず vs. な (as in するな) な is a casual spoken prohibition, while べからず is formal and written. Use な with friends, べからず on signs or in official documents.
Register Archaic and formal; used in written rules, signs, and literary or legal contexts, not in everyday speech.
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べからず / べからざる
📚 How to Master This Pattern
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Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat べからず / べからざる three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
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Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using べからず / べからざる. 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.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern べからず / べからざる mean? ▼
Must not; should not; do not ~
What JLPT level is べからず / べからざる? ▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use べからず / べからざる in a sentence? ▼
Attach べからず / べからざる (bekarazu/ bekarazaru) 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 べからず / べからざる formal or casual Japanese? ▼
べからず / べからざる 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 べからず / べからざる 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.