あかん

あかん
expression
no good; must not (Kansai dialect)
informalcolloquialexpression
See also: だめ (standard equivalent)
1. no good; not acceptable; hopeless
Kansai dialect equivalent of だめ (dame), indicating something is no good, unacceptable, or impossible.
もうあかんわ。
It's no good anymore.
この機械(きかい)、あかんわ。
This machine is no good.
今日(きょう)は体調(たいちょう)があかんねん。
I'm not feeling well today.
2. must not; should not
Used to express prohibition or that something should not be done.
ここで走(はし)ったらあかん。
You must not run here.
ここでタバコ吸(す)ったらあかんで。
You must not smoke here.
遅刻(ちこく)したらあかんから、早(はや)めに出(で)よう。
We shouldn't be late, so let's leave early.

Dialect

Kansai (関西(かんさい)) dialect, widely used throughout the region.

Etymology

From 埒(らち)が明(あ)かぬ (rachi ga akanu - "the fence won't open," meaning no progress), contracted to あかん.

Standard equivalent

だめ / いけない (standard Japanese)

Common patterns

  • 〜したらあかん - must not do ~
  • 〜せんとあかん - must do ~
  • あかんわ - it's no good (emphatic)
  • あかんかった - was no good (past)
  • あかんやん - it's no good, isn't it

Idiomatic

  • もうあかん - I give up / It's hopeless
  • あかん子(こ)ほどかわいい - The worse the child, the more you love them

Usage

One of the most recognizable Kansai expressions, frequently heard in media and comedy.

Related Words

Antonym: ええやん (it's good)
Related: だめだ (it's no good, I can't)
general
Added 2026.1.20 17:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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