Prohibition and Notice Signs

Vocabulary of prohibition and notice signs

The vocabulary of prohibition and notice signs consists of kanji words posted in public places to convey prohibitions, the condition of a place, or notices to visitors. Most are compound words of two or more kanji, so the meaning of each component kanji helps in understanding the whole word. The sentence patterns that often accompany them are 「～ないでください(please don't ～)」 for requests and 「～てはいけません(must not ～)」 for prohibitions.

Prohibition group (禁止, きんし, prohibition)

• 禁煙(きんえん, no smoking) — a combination of 禁(きん, to prohibit) and 煙(えん, smoke). Used in places where smoking is not allowed. 例) 公園の中は禁煙です。 The request sentence 「たばこを吸わないでください」 usually appears alongside this sign.
• The pattern 「～ですから、～ないでください」 is used to state a reason and then make a request, and the reason part can be the word 禁煙. 例) ここは禁煙ですから、外で吸ってください。
• 立入禁止(たちいりきんし, no entry) — 立入(たちいり, entering an area) and 禁止(きんし, prohibition). It means people may not enter that area. 例) 工場の中は立入禁止です。 It has the same meaning as 「ここに入ってはいけません」.
• 関係者以外立入禁止(かんけいしゃいがいたちいりきんし, no entry except persons concerned) — 関係者(かんけいしゃ, persons concerned) and 以外(いがい, except). Only persons concerned may enter; everyone else is prohibited.
• 駐車禁止(ちゅうしゃきんし, no parking) — 駐車(ちゅうしゃ, parking a vehicle). Do not confuse it with 禁煙 or 立入禁止, which concern smoking or entering.

State group (状態, じょうたい, state or condition)

• 使用中(しようちゅう, in use) — 使用(しよう, use) and 中(ちゅう, in progress). Posted on a toilet or room to indicate that someone is using it. Its opposite is 空いている(あいている, vacant, available). Do not confuse it with 使用禁止(しようきんし, use prohibited).
• 満室(まんしつ, no vacancy) — 満(まん, full) and 室(しつ, room). Used at hotels to indicate that all rooms are occupied. Its opposite is 空室(くうしつ, vacant room).
• 満員(まんいん, full) — used for vehicles or rooms that are packed with people.
• 営業中(えいぎょうちゅう, open for business) — 営業(えいぎょう, business operations) and 中. Indicates that a shop or business is currently operating. Its opposite is 休業(きゅうぎょう, closed for business).
• 休業(きゅうぎょう, closed for business) — 休(きゅう, rest) and 業(ぎょう, business). A business is temporarily not operating. 休業 is read きゅうぎょう, not きょうぎょう.
• 本日休業(ほんじつきゅうぎょう, closed today) — 本日(ほんじつ, today). An announcement of closure for one day. The form 「本日休み(ほんじつやすみ)」 also means the shop is closed today, using the word 休み(やすみ, holiday).
• 準備中(じゅんびちゅう, preparing) — 準備(じゅんび, preparation). Customers cannot enter yet because preparations are not finished.
• 清掃中(せいそうちゅう, being cleaned) — 清掃(せいそう, cleaning). The place is being cleaned.
• 工事中(こうじちゅう, under construction) — 工事(こうじ, construction work). Often used as a reason for an entry ban, for example 「工事中につき」.
• 故障(こしょう, out of order) — used for machines or equipment that do not work.
• 予約済み(よやくずみ, already reserved) — 予約(よやく, reservation) and 済み(ずみ, already done).

Location and facility group

• 出口(でぐち, exit) — 出(で, exit) and 口(くち, opening). When it follows another kanji, 口 changes to ぐち (rendaku).
• 入口(いりぐち, entrance) — 入(い, enter) and 口(ぐち). The opposite of 出口.
• 非常口(ひじょうぐち, emergency exit) — 非常(ひじょう, emergency) and 口(ぐち). Used as an exit route in emergencies such as fire. The reading of 非 is ひ and that of 常 is じょう.
• 受付(うけつけ, reception desk), 売店(ばいてん, kiosk), 休憩室(きゅうけいしつ, lounge) — all are names of facilities.
• 館内(かんない, inside the building) and 案内(あんない, guidance or information) often appear on guide signs.