禁

2 readings · tap one to hear it

to prohibit; to forbid

Sound it out + = · + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

示 meaning “altar” + 林 sound ( lín )

Components 林示

prohibit · Heisig RSH #906

林 woods + altar

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
情不自禁	qíng bù zì jīn	(idiom) cannot refrain from; cannot help; cannot but
武器禁运	wǔ qì jìn yùn	embargo on arms sale
禁不起	jīn bu qǐ	to be unable to stand
喜不自禁	xǐ bù zì jīn	unable to contain one's joy (idiom)
门禁卡	mén jìn kǎ	keycard; electronic entrance card
禁飞区	jìn fēi qū	no-fly zone
不禁	bù jīn	can't help (doing sth); can't refrain from
禁区	jìn qū	restricted area; forbidden zone; off-limits area
禁地	jìn dì	forbidden area; restricted area; (fig.) sth considered off-limits
海禁	hǎi jìn	prohibition on entering or leaving by sea
全面禁止核试验条约	Quán miàn Jìn zhǐ Hé shì yàn Tiáo yuē	Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
开禁	kāi jìn	to lift a ban; to lift a curfew
门禁	mén jìn	restrictions on entry and exiting; control over access
禁欲主义	jìn yù zhǔ yì	asceticism
禁语	jìn yǔ	taboo (word); unmentionable word
禁不住	jīn bu zhù	can't help it; can't bear it
全面禁止	quán miàn jìn zhǐ	complete prohibition; total ban
禁卫军	jìn wèi jūn	imperial guard
禁用	jīn yòng	to withstand heavy use; durable
禁用	jìn yòng	to prohibit the use of sth; to ban; (computing) to disable

Characters sharing the sound component 林 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
林 sound part	lín	forest, grove; surname
淋	lín	to drench, to drip, to soak; perfectly
琳	lín	a beautiful gemstone
彬	bīn	ornamental; cultivated, refined, well-bred
啉	lín	stupid; slow
霖	lín	monsoon; a long spell of rain
婪	lán	to covet; covetous, avaricious
痲	má	pock-marked; measles; leprosy
郴	chēn	a county in Hunan province; surname