1.
taboo, something forbidden, something to avoid
Something that should be avoided or refrained from in a particular situation. Often used in the pattern ～は禁物 (... is something to be avoided) to warn against certain behaviors or actions.
油断は禁物だ。
Carelessness is to be avoided.
病気のときは無理は禁物です。
You must avoid overexerting yourself when you are sick.
試験の前日は夜更かしは禁物だから、早めに寝なさい。
Staying up late is to be avoided the night before an exam, so go to bed early.
USAGE:
Almost always appears in the pattern ～は禁物だ, functioning as a warning or advice that something should be avoided. This is an idiomatic expression rather than a word used freely in various grammatical constructions.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 油断は禁物: carelessness is forbidden (never let your guard down)
- 無理は禁物: overexertion is to be avoided
- 焦りは禁物: haste is to be avoided
- 夜更かしは禁物: staying up late is to be avoided