严禁

• Pinyin: yán jìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 严 = strictness/severity components; 禁 = 林 (forest — two trees suggesting something fenced off or sacred) + 示 (spirit/taboo altar — something forbidden for ritual or authority reasons)

Meaning

To strictly prohibit; strictly forbidden. A strong, official prohibition used in regulations, notices, and formal instructions.

Stronger than 禁止 (to prohibit) — 严禁 implies enforcement and serious consequences for violation. Commonly seen on official signs and regulations: 严禁吸烟 (strictly no smoking), 严禁翻越 (strictly prohibited to climb over), 严禁携带危险品 (strictly forbidden to carry dangerous goods). A fixture of institutional and governmental language.

Examples

1. 考场内严禁携带任何电子设备，违者将被取消考试资格并按舞弊行为处理，相关规定已提前告知所有考生。 No electronic devices are allowed in the exam room. Anyone who violates the rule will be disqualified and treated as cheating. The policy was communicated to all test-takers in advance.
2. 国家法律明文规定严禁向未成年人出售烟草和酒精制品，违规商家将面临高额罚款乃至吊销营业执照的处罚。 National law explicitly prohibits selling tobacco and alcohol to minors. Violating businesses face heavy fines and may even have their licenses revoked.
3. 文物保护区域内严禁进行任何形式的商业开发活动，以确保珍贵历史遗址得到永久性的有效保护。 All forms of commercial development are strictly prohibited in protected cultural heritage areas to ensure precious historical sites receive permanent, effective protection.

Usage Guide

Context: regulations, signs, law, official notices

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 该化工仓储区域内严禁烟火，所有人员在进入前必须上交打火机及手机，并经过安全培训后方可入内。(Open flames and smoking are strictly prohibited in this chemical storage area; all personnel must surrender lighters and mobile phones before entry and may only enter after completing safety training.)
• 医院重症监护病房内严禁家属探视期间大声喧哗，以确保重症患者能够得到充分的休息和恢复条件。(Loud noise by visiting family members is strictly prohibited in the hospital's intensive care unit, to ensure that critically ill patients have adequate conditions for rest and recovery.)

Don't Say

• 我严禁你这样做 — while grammatically possible, 严禁 is extremely formal and institutional; between individuals in conversation use 不允许 or 我不让你这样做; reserve 严禁 for official or regulatory contexts

Origin & History

严 (strict/severe) + 禁 (to prohibit/forbid) — a strict, non-negotiable prohibition

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal