How to say "inhibition" in Japanese

• 禁止きんしJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers the 'prohibition, ban' side of 'inhibition': something being forbidden by a rule or rule-maker. For the psychological or scientific sense of 'inhibition', this is usually not 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.
• 抑制よくせいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe usual choice for the psychological sense: holding back or restraining impulses, emotions, or behavior. It suggests self-control or suppression rather than an external ban, matching 'loss of inhibition' well.
  彼かれは怒いかりを抑制よくせいすることができなかった。↗

  He could not control his anger.
• 阻害そがいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbBest for the technical sense of 'inhibition' as hindering or blocking a process, as in biology or chemistry where one substance inhibits another's activity. It frames the sense as obstruction or impediment.
  それは彼かれの人格じんかくを阻害そがいすることになる。↗

  It runs against his character.
• 制止せいしCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbReally means checking or holding someone back from an action, often physically or by intervention. It only marginally matches 'inhibition'; for restraint of feelings or impulses, 抑制 is the more natural word.
  警察けいさつは群衆ぐんしゅうを制止せいしした。↗

  The police held back the crowd.

For psychological restraint of behavior or feelings use 抑制; for a rule or ban use 禁止; for blocking or hindering a process (as in science) use 阻害; 制止 mainly means physically checking or stopping someone.

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

• 禁止きんしprohibition
• 抑制よくせいcontrol
• 阻害そがいobstruction
• 制止せいしcontrol