How to say "forbid" in Japanese

• 禁ずるきんずるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbForbidding or prohibiting something outright; the same meaning as 禁じる but more formal or written in flavor. Typical in legal, official, or literary contexts: rules and laws that forbid certain actions.
  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.
• 禁じるきんじるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe ordinary choice for 'forbid' or 'prohibit': someone in authority bars an action, as when rules, laws, or parents forbid smoking, entry, or disclosure. Use this for the plain prohibitive sense.
  彼女かのじょは喫煙きつえんを禁きんじられた。↗

  She was prohibited from smoking.
• 封じるふうじるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbIts main senses are sealing something shut, blocking, or suppressing movement or speech; 'forbid' is only a marginal extension. Seldom the word you want for plain prohibition—reach for 禁じる instead.
  彼かれらは賄賂わいろを使つかって証人しょうにんの口くちを封ふうじた。↗

  They bribed the witness into silence.

「禁じる」 and 「禁ずる」 mean the same thing—directly forbidding or prohibiting something—with 「禁じる」 the everyday form; 「封じる」 only covers 'forbid' marginally, its core senses being sealing off or blocking.

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

• 禁ずるきんずるto forbid
• 禁じるきんじるto forbid
• 禁ずきんずto forbid
• 戒めるいましめるto prohibit
• 封じるふうじるto prevent (e.g. movement)
• 封ずるふうずるto prevent
• 止めるとめるto stop (someone from doing something)