禁用 (jìn yòng) — to forbid the use of, to prohibit; to disable (a function or feature)

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to prohibit use of / to disable', usually issued by an authority (library, meeting, software settings). Implies an official ban on a specific function or behavior, unlike general 'not allowed' suggestions.

verb
to forbid the use ofto prohibitto disable (a function or feature)

Examples

  • 禁用。
    Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn jìn yòng le fù zhì gōng néng.
    This software has disabled the copy function.
  • 禁用。
    Tú shū guǎn nèi jìn yòng xī yān.
    Smoking is prohibited in the library.
  • 禁用。
    Huì yì qī jiān jìn yòng shǐ yòng diàn zǐ shè bèi.
    The use of electronic devices is forbidden during the meeting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

禁jìnendure
用yònguse

禁 means endure and 用 means use, so 禁用 describes something able to withstand use.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
示示shìaltar
Sound part声符shēngfú
林
林lín禁jìn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

禁 has 林 above 示, an altar. The 林 part gives the sound, and the altar part connects the character to taboo or restricted matters.

Open 禁 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

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