1.
to prohibit, to forbid, to ban
To officially or authoritatively forbid something. Used for rules, laws, and regulations.
喫煙を禁じる。
To prohibit smoking.
この地域では釣りが禁じられている。
Fishing is prohibited in this area.
法律で未成年者の飲酒は禁じられている。
Drinking by minors is prohibited by law.
2.
to suppress, to hold back (an emotion)
To restrain oneself from expressing a feeling. Most commonly appears in the set phrase ...を禁じ得ない (cannot help but feel...).
涙を禁じ得なかった。
I could not hold back my tears.
驚きを禁じ得ない。
I cannot help but feel astonished.
その悲惨な状況を見て、同情の念を禁じ得なかった。
Seeing that tragic situation, I could not help but feel sympathy.
USAGE:
An ichidan verb. The variant 禁ずる (classical form) also exists but 禁じる is standard in modern Japanese.
Sense 2 almost always appears in the fixed pattern ～を禁じ得ない (cannot suppress, cannot help but feel). This is a formal, written expression.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 喫煙を禁じる: to prohibit smoking
- 法律で禁じる: to prohibit by law
- 涙を禁じ得ない: cannot hold back tears
- 驚きを禁じ得ない: cannot help but be amazed