JLPT N5 Grammar (cha ikenai / ja ikenai)

Meaning

must not do (spoken Japanese)

How to use

Verb ちゃだめ
ちゃいけない
ちゃいけません
Verb じゃダメ
じゃいけない
じゃいけません
jlpt-n5-grammar-meaning-ちゃいけない-じゃいけない-cha-ikenai-ja-dame-文法例文

Learn Japanese grammar: (cha ikenai) / (cha dame) / (ja ikenai) / (ja dame). Meaning: must not; may not; cannot (spoken Japanese).

This grammar is a more casual way to say we should not do / may not do something. To be more formal, you can use .

Which to use: ちゃ VS じゃ

  • Use the verb’s て form, but then remove the て
    • たべる -> たべて -> たべ
    • “taberu” -> “tabete” -> “tabe cha”

  • If the て form is で, then ちゃ turns to じゃ
    • のむ -> のんで -> のん
    • “nomu” -> “nonde” -> “nonja”

3 Main Ending Patterns

  • (dame) = standard, casual
  • (ikenai) = standard, casual
  • (ikemasen) = same, but more formal

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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

ねるまえにスマホをみちゃだめよ。
neru mae ni sumaho o micha dame yo.
You shouldn't look at your smartphone before going to bed.
Example #2

ここはきけんなので、はいっちゃだめだよ。
koko wa kiken na node, haiccha dame da yo.
This area is dangerous, so you're not allowed to enter.
Example #3

やっちゃいけないことをやっちゃった。
yaccha ikenai koto o yacchatta.
I did something I shouldn't have...
Example #4

じしんをなくしちゃいけません!
jishin o naku shicha ikemasen!
You mustn't lose confidence!
Example #5

そんなにじゅぎょうをさぼっちゃだめよ。
sonna ni jugyou o saboccha dame yo.
You shouldn't skip class so much.
Example #6

かれをしにょうしちゃいけない。
kare o shinyou shicha ikenai.
We cannot trust him.
Example #7

あかしんごうをむししちゃいけません。
aka shingou o mushi shicha ikemasen.
You must not ignore red lights!
Example #8

やさいをたべるまでデザートをたべちゃいけないよ。
yasai o taberu made dezaato o tabecha ikenai yo.
No eating dessert until you finish eating your vegetables.
Example #9

こどものまえにわるいことばをいっちゃいけません。
kodomo no mae ni warui kotoba o iccha ikemasen.
We must not say bad words in front of children.
Example #10

はたちみまんのひとはおさけをのんじゃいけません。
hatachi miman no hito wa osake o nonja ikemasen.
People under the age of 20 cannot drink alcohol.

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
寝るねるto sleep
前にまえにbefore
スマフォsmart phone
見るみるto look
危険きけんdangerous
入るはいるto enter
授業じゅぎょうclass; lecture
さぼるto skip
かれhim
信用しんようtrust
野菜やさいvegetables
食べるたべるto eat
やるto do
自信じしんconfidence
無くするなくするto lose
赤信号あかしんごうred light
無視むしto ignore
子供こどもchildren; child
悪いわるいbad
言葉ことばword; words
言ういうto say
20歳はたち20 years old (adult in Japan)
未満みまんnot yet
お酒おさけalcahol
飲むのむto drink

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JLPT N5 vocabulary list

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