How to say "ban" in Japanese

• 禁止きんしJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe all-purpose noun for a ban or prohibition: rules, signs and announcements that forbid something are typically phrased with it. For the plain sense of 'ban', this is the word you want.
  喫煙きつえんは絶対ぜったい禁止きんし。↗

  Smoking is strictly prohibited.
• 禁きんCommon
  nounA terse noun for a prohibition — a ban on smoking, for example. On its own it is limited, so for most purposes 禁止 is the natural choice; 禁 is mostly met inside fixed expressions.
  彼かれは一いち年ねん近ちかくもアルコール類るいを断ことわっていたが、お正月しょうがつの頃ころに禁きんを破やぶってまた元もとに戻もどってしまった。↗

  He had been dry for almost a year, but he fell off the wagon around New Year's Day.
• 禁ずるきんずるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbThe verb 'to forbid, ban or prohibit': use it when you need the action rather than the noun, as when a rule or authority prohibits something. It is the verb counterpart of 禁止.
  ベッドでの煙草たばこを禁きんずる厳きびしい規則きそくがある。↗

  There is a very strict rule forbidding smoking in bed.
• 法度はっとCommon
  nounA prohibition imposed as a rule; it can also mean simply something forbidden, even a taboo. For the plain sense of 'ban' it is a marginal choice — 禁止 is the word you want.
• 厳禁げんきんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA strict prohibition with an emphatic, warning force — the tone of notices that forbid something outright. Use it to stress that a ban is absolute, not to state one neutrally.
  希少きしょう野生やせい動物どうぶつをこの国くにに輸入ゆにゅうすることは厳禁げんきんされています。↗

  The importation of rare wild animals to this country is strictly prohibited.

For the ordinary noun use 禁止 and for the verb 「禁ずる」; 禁 is a terse noun best kept to fixed expressions, 厳禁 adds strict, warning force, and 法度 is a marginal word for rule-imposed bans and taboos.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 禁止きんしprohibition
• 禁きんban (e.g. on smoking)
• 禁ずるきんずるto forbid
• 法度はっとban
• 厳禁げんきんstrict prohibition
• 禁制きんせいprohibition
• 差し止めさしとめprohibition
• 禁じるきんじるto forbid
• 禁止条約きんしじょうやくban (treaty)
• アク禁アクきんban (from accessing a website, network service, etc.)
• アクセス禁止アクセスきんしban (from accessing a website, network service, etc.)
• 禁止令きんしれいban
• ＢＡＮバンban (of an online account)
• 禁令きんれいprohibition
• 禁圧きんあつsuppression
• 禁ずきんずto forbid
• 停止ていしsuspension (of payment, a licence, etc.)
• 戒めいましめprohibition
• 戒めるいましめるto prohibit