Lesson 178: べく・まじき・べからず

N1 · Lesson 178 · 18 min — Grandpa is almost here, but the tree has a fence around it. Learn formal, written ways to say purpose, harsh criticism and prohibition.

Last lesson, Rin officially joined the travel agency. This lesson has three very "written" expressions: べく (in order to ~), まじき (unworthy of ~) and べからず (must not ~). You will see them in news, speeches and on signs. Let's start with the comic!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use べく to write a formal purpose, "in order to ~": おじいちゃんを 迎むかえるべく、準備じゅんびする
• Use に あるまじき for strong criticism, "~ that is unworthy of someone in that role": ガイドに あるまじき 遅刻ちこく
• Read べからず on signs, "must not ~": この先さき、立たち入いるべからず
• Know the difference: all three are written or formal Japanese. In everyday talk, switch to ために or ないで ください.

The Sign on the Fence

Rin has joined the travel agency, and the day Grandpa comes to Japan is getting close. Rin visits the tree every day to prepare... (案内あんない = guiding, 下見したみ = scouting ahead, 寝坊ねぼう = oversleeping)

べく = in order to ~; まじき = unworthy of ~; べからず = must not ~. Next lesson: the newspaper runs an editorial about this tree!

Words in this lesson: the sign by the tree

• 〜べく (beku): in order to ~ (written purpose)
• 〜に あるまじき (ni arumajiki): (as ~) unworthy of, not fitting for ~
• 〜べからず (bekarazu): must not ~, do not ~ (signs)
• 〜べからざる (bekarazaru): ~ that must not be (before a noun)
• 迎むかえる (mukaeru): to welcome, to meet
• 下見したみ (shitami): scouting ahead, checking a place beforehand
• 案内あんない (annai): guiding, showing the way
• ルート (rūto): route
• 空港くうこう (kūkō): airport
• 工事こうじ (kōji): construction work
• 立たち入いる (tachiiru): to enter (a restricted area)
• 遅刻ちこく (chikoku): being late
• 寝坊ねぼう (nebō): oversleeping
• プロ (puro): a professional
• ミス (misu): a mistake, an error
• 選手せんしゅ (senshu): athlete, player
• 教師きょうし (kyōshi): teacher
• 行為こうい (kōi): an act, behavior
• 態度たいど (taido): attitude
• 発言はつげん (hatsugen): a remark, something said
• 許ゆるす (yurusu): to forgive, to allow
• だます (damasu): to deceive
• 芝生しばふ (shibafu): lawn
• 苔こけ (koke): moss
• 踏ふむ (fumu): to step on
• 館内かんない (kannai): inside the building
• 撮影さつえい (satsuei): photography, taking pictures
• 欠かく (kaku): to lack, to go without
• 山登やまのぼり (yamanobori): mountain climbing
• 夢ゆめを かなえる (yume o kanaeru): to make a dream come true (夢ゆめ = dream)
• 合格ごうかく (gōkaku): to pass (an exam)
• 確認かくにん (kakunin): to check, to confirm

Grammar 1 / 3: べく

V dictionary form + べく = in order to ~ (written purpose). する becomes すべく. The second half is an action the subject takes for that purpose.

• Form: V dictionary form + べく: Add べく right after the dictionary form: 迎むかえるべく、守まもるべく. する verbs become すべく (確認かくにんすべく). You also see するべく. A noun cannot come directly before it: ×試験しけんの べく.
• Meaning: in order to ~ (purpose): ＝ために. 夢ゆめを かなえるべく、日本にほんへ 来きた = I came to Japan in order to make my dream come true.
• Second half: your own action: After べく, put something the subject does for the purpose (準備じゅんびした、集あつまった). Do not use requests, commands or invitations such as "please ~" or "let's ~". To ask someone else to do something, use ために (確認かくにんするために 来きて ください). For a result you cannot control, such as "arrive early", use ように.
• Feel: written and formal: Common in news, speeches, proposals and reports. Compare three ways to say "in order to": ために = general, fine anywhere; べく = written and formal (news, proposals); んがため = even more literary and stresses determination (last lesson: 約束やくそくを 果はたさんが ため). They all mean "in order to". The difference is how formal they are. In the comic, Rin uses べく to "announce his resolution", a bit over-serious on purpose.

• 夢ゆめを かなえるべく、日本にほんへ 来きました。 — I came to Japan in order to make my dream come true.
• 試験しけんに 合格ごうかくすべく、毎晩まいばん 勉強べんきょうした。 — In order to pass the exam, I studied every night.
• おじいちゃんを 迎むかえるべく、空港くうこうまでの 道みちを 調しらべた。 — In order to welcome Grandpa, I checked the way to the airport.
• 町まちの 歴史れきしを 伝つたえるべく、ツアーを 作つくりました。 — In order to share the history of the town, I designed a tour.
• 木きを 守まもるべく、町まちの 人ひとたちが 集あつまった。 — In order to protect that tree, the people of the town gathered.

Grammar 2 / 3: まじき

N＋に（として）あるまじき＋N = (as ~) unworthy of ~: very harsh criticism. It is always followed by a noun.

• Form: N＋に／として あるまじき＋N: The most common pattern is "role + に あるまじき + noun": ガイドに あるまじき 遅刻ちこく、先生せんせいとして あるまじき 言葉ことば. まじき originally attaches to a dictionary-form verb (あるまじき = ある + まじき). Today, besides あるまじき, you mostly see it only in set phrases like 許ゆるすまじき 行為こうい (an unforgivable act).
• Meaning: unworthy of someone as ~: You criticize someone's act, attitude or remark as "not at all fitting for their role". The tone is very strong. You see it in news and commentary.
• Always followed by a noun: Common nouns are 行為こうい・態度たいど・発言はつげん・ミス・こと. You cannot end a sentence right after it: ×あるまじきだ → ○あるまじき ことだ.
• Negative only: まじき is always criticism. To praise, use らしい, which you already know (ガイドらしい 笑顔えがお). Do not mix it up with まい ("surely not ~"), which you also learned: まい goes at the end of a sentence, and まじき goes before a noun.

• ガイドに あるまじき 遅刻ちこくだ。 — This is lateness unworthy of a guide.
• 社会人しゃかいじんとして あるまじき 行為こういです。 — This is behavior unworthy of a member of society.
• お客きゃくさんの 前まえで 寝ねるのは、ガイドとして あるまじき 態度たいどだ。 — Sleeping in front of customers is an attitude unworthy of a guide.
• お年寄としよりを だますのは、許ゆるすまじき 行為こういだ。 — Deceiving an elderly person is an unforgivable act.
• 選手せんしゅに あるまじき 発言はつげんが 問題もんだいに なった。 — A remark unworthy of an athlete caused a stir.

Grammar 3 / 3: べからず

V dictionary form + べからず = must not ~, do not ~: the style of signs and rules. する becomes すべからず. Before a noun, use べからざる.

• Form: V dictionary form + べからず: Add べからず to the dictionary form: 入はいるべからず、捨すてるべからず. する verbs become すべからず (撮影さつえいすべからず). (You sometimes see するべからず too.)
• Use: signs, rules, slogans: Signs at temples, parks and old shops, or rules you make yourself. When you remind someone face to face, use ないで ください or ては いけません, which you already know. Saying べからず aloud sounds like reading a sign.
• べからざる＋N: ~ that must not be: Before a noun it becomes べからざる: 欠かくべからざる もの = something indispensable; 許ゆるすべからざる 行為こうい = an unforgivable act.
• Compare with べきではない: べきではない, which you already learned, means "I think you shouldn't", an opinion or advice. べからず means "it is forbidden", a rule or order. It is harder and more written.

• この先さき、立たち入いるべからず。 — Do not enter beyond this point.
• 芝生しばふに 入はいるべからず。 — Do not walk on the lawn.
• 館内かんないで 撮影さつえいすべからず。 — No photography inside the building.
• 寝ねる 前まえに 甘あまい ものを 食たべるべからず。 — (My own rule) Do not eat sweets before bed.
• 地図ちずは、ガイドに とって 欠かくべからざる ものです。 — A map is indispensable for a guide.