禁令

• Reading: きんれい
• Romaji: kinrei
• Kanji breakdown: 禁 (kin) — prohibition, forbid; 令 (rei) — order, decree, command
• Pronunciation: /ki.ɴ.ɾe.i/

Meaning

Prohibition; ban; edict; decree. An official order forbidding a specific act or behaviour.

A formal term used in legal, historical, and governmental contexts. Stronger in tone than 規制 (regulation) and typically implies top-down authority from a government or ruling body. Historically used for edicts issued by the shogunate or emperor, and still used today for legislative or administrative bans.

Examples

1. 江戸時代にはキリスト教に対する厳しい禁令が出されていた。 During the Edo period, strict prohibitions were issued against Christianity.
2. 政府は夜間の外出禁令を段階的に解除すると発表した。 The government announced that it would gradually lift the nighttime curfew.
3. 新たな禁令が施行されたことで、業界内に混乱が広がった。 The enforcement of a new ban caused widespread confusion within the industry.

Usage Guide

Context: law, history, government, policy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 禁 (kin) means to prohibit or forbid; 令 (rei) means order, command, or decree. The combination conveys an authoritative prohibition issued by a governing body.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated