In today’s blog post I will clarify the meaning of the Japanese word “dame” (ダメ, 駄目) and the related phrases “dame desu“, “dame da“, “dame dayo“, and “dame dame“. Since the word can be used in different situations and ways its meaning varies quite a bit. However, here is my quick answer to what “dame” means in Japanese.
The Japanese word “dame” (ダメ, 駄目) means “no good”, “hopeless”, “cannot”, or “not allowed”. It is used to express that something or someone is inadequate, not good enough, or has become useless. The word is also used to tell someone that they cannot, shouldn’t, or are not allowed to do something.
As you can see “dame” has tons of different meanings in Japanese so below I’m going to explain each of them in concrete examples. After the detailed explanation, we will also look at the polite version “dame desu” (ダメです) and the more casual phrases “dame da” (ダメだ) and “dame dayo” (ダメだよ) which you have probably heard a lot of times when watching anime.
The Meaning & Translations of the Japanese Word “Dame”
The Japanese word “dame” can be written in Katakana as ダメ or in Kanji as 駄目. Sometimes, but less commonly, you will also see it written in Hiragana as だめ. Its general meaning is “no good“, but depending on the situation and how it is used it can also be translated to English in the following ways:
- no good, not serving its purpose, useless, broken
- hopeless, wasted, in vain, purposeless, pointless
- cannot, must not, should not, not allowed, no
- must do, need to, have to do
Let’s take a detailed look at each English translation and let me illustrate how you can use the Japanese word “dame” (ダメ, 駄目) in different situations with a bunch of example sentences.
1. No Good, Not Serving its Purpose, Useless, Broken
You can use the word dame (ダメ, 駄目) to express that something or someone is “no good” because he or she does not live up to a certain standard or something doesn’t work as expected. In this situation, “dame” can also be translated as “useless” or “broken“.
Atarashii sensei wa dame.
新しい先生は駄目。
The new teacher is no good.Sono gitarisuto wa dame.
そのギタリストはダメ。
That guitarist is useless.Sono pen wa dame.
そのペンは駄目。
That pen is no good.Kono guitaa wa dame.
このギターはダメ。
This guitar is broken.
Instead of using “dame” at the end of a sentence, it can also be combined with the particle na (な) and placed before a noun to talk about a “useless (person)” or a “useless (thing)“. Another good translation, in this case, is “good for nothing“.
dame na yatsu
駄目なやつ
a useless guyWatashi wa dame na megami desu.
私は駄目な女神です。
I’m a useless goodess.dame na mono
駄目なもの
a useless thingDame na tokei o kacchatta.
ダメな時計を買っちゃった。
I bought a useless watch.
2. Hopeless, Wasted, In Vain, Purposeless, Pointless
“Dame” (ダメ, 駄目) can also be used to express that you are in a hopeless situation and that you feel like no matter how hard you try it is pointless or just in vain. Maybe you are applying for a job but you have no success, or you try to repair something but you can’t get it to work.
There are a bunch of accurate translations that you can use in this situation as for example “pointless“, “in vain“, “hopeless“, “It’s hopeless“, “It’s pointless“, “There is no point“, “It is no use“, etc.
Dame da. Shigoto ga mitsukaranai.
ダメだ。仕事が見つからない。
It’s hopeless. I can’t find a job.Mou dame da. Tsukareta.
もうダメだ。疲れた。
There’s no point (in continuing). I’m too tired.Kono ie wa mou shuuzen shitemo dame da.
この家はもう修繕しても駄目だ。
It’s pointless. This house is beyond repair.Ima ittemitemo dame.
今行ってみても駄目。
Even if I try to go now it’ll just be in vain.
Hopefully, the example sentences make clear that “dame” shows resignation or that you have already given up.
3. Cannot, Must Not, Should Not, Not Allowed, No
Another common use-case of the Japanese word “dame” (駄目, ダメ) is to tell someone that they “cannot“, “must not“, “should not” or are “not allowed” to do something. It can be used when talking about rules or general advice. In anime, bossy characters will often use this phrase to tell other people what not to do.
Inu ga ninniku o taberu no wa dame.
犬がにんにくを食べるのはダメ。
Dogs are not allowed to eat garlic.Naruto, dame da!
ナルト、ダメだ！
Naruto, you shouldn’t do this!Kono eiga micha dame!
この映画見ちゃ駄目！
Don’t watch this movie!Nigecha dame da!
逃げちゃ駄目だ！
I cannot run away!
Especially when “dame” is used as a reply to a question it can also be translated as just “No!” or “No, you can’t“.
Kore tabete ii?
これ食べていい？
Can I eat this?Dame!
ダメ！
No!Koko ni sundemo ii desu ka?
ここに住んでもいいですか？
Can I live here?Zettai dame!
絶対ダメ！
No, you definitely can’t!
4. Must do, Need to, Have to Do
When used in a negative sentence “dame” (駄目, ダメ) can also be used to say that someone “must do“, “need to do“, or “has to do” something. It literally translates as “if you don’t (do x), it’s no good” or “it won’t do unless you (do x)“.
Kono arubamu kikanakereba dame da.
このアルバム聞かなければダメだ。
You have to listen to this album!Zenbu tabenakya dame da!
全部食べなきゃ駄目だ！
You have to eat everything!Ikanakya dame!
行かなきゃダメ！
You have to go!
Please note that these are extremely casual sentence patterns, so only use them when talking to your friends or people you know very well.
The Meaning of “Dame Desu” in Japanese (polite phrase)
“Dame desu” (ダメです, 駄目です) is a Japanese phrase that means “It’s no good“, “It’s pointless“, “You cannot do this” or “You’re not allowed to do this“. It generally has the same meaning and can be used in the same situations as the word “dame” (ダメ, 駄目), but adding desu (です) makes it more polite.
Dame.
ダメ。
It’s no good (casual)Dame desu。
ダメです。
It’s no good (polite)
The Meaning of “Dame Da” in Japanese (casual phrase)
The Japanese phrase “Dame da” (ダメだ, 駄目だ) means “It’s no good!“, “It’s pointless!”, “You cannot do this!” or “You’re not allowed to do this!“. It generally has the same meaning as the word “dame” (ダメ, 駄目), but adding the casual copula da (だ) adds force and makes the sentence sound more declarative.
Dame.
ダメ。
It’s no good (casual)Dame da!
ダメだ！
It’s no good! (more casual and stronger)Dame desu。
ダメです。
It’s no good (polite)
The Meaning of “Dame Dayo” in Japanese (casual phrase)
“Dame dayo” (ダメだよ, 駄目だよ) is a colloquial Japanese expression that means “It’s no good!”, “It’s pointless!“, “You cannot do this!” or “You’re not allowed to do this!”. In comparison to “Dame” and “Dame da” it is even more casual and stronger. That’s why it should only be used in informal situations.
“Yo” (よ) is a sentence-ending particle that adds force and makes the sentence sound slightly more masculine. However, women use it a lot, too! I usually recommend thinking of yo (よ) as an exclamation mark, while dayo (だよ) is like adding two or more exclamation marks.
Dame.
ダメ。
It’s no good (casual)Dame da!
ダメだ！
It’s no good! (casual and strong)Dame dayo!
ダメだよ！
It’s no good!!!! (more casual and stronger)Dame desu。
ダメです。
It’s no good (polite)
The Meaning of “Dame Dame” in Japanese
“Dame dame” (ダメダメ) means “no no” or “tisk tisk“. It is a Japanese expression that is used when someone does something bad or something they shouldn’t do. It is also part of the signature phrase “Dame yo, dame dame” of the comic duo Nippon Elekitei Rengo which translates as “No you mustn’t, no no“.
Dame dame!
ダメダメ
No no!
No, you can’t (do this)!Dame yo, dame dame!
ダメよ、ダメダメ！
No you mustn’t, no no!
Examples of how to Use “Dame” in a Japanese Sentence
| Zettai ni dame da. Absolutely not! Overy my dead body! | 絶対にダメだ！ ぜったい に ダメ だ！ |
| Doushite dame nano? Why not? Why can’t it? | どうしてダメなの？ |
| Yappari dame desu… It’s no good after all | やっぱりダメです… |
| Kono resutoran wa dame da. This restaurant won’t do. | このレストランは駄目だ。 この レストラン は ダメ だ。 |
| Kimi ga inai to dame na no I can’t live without you | 君がいないとダメなの。 きみ が いない と ダメ なの。 |
| Iya dame desu! No, you cannot! | いや駄目です。 いや ダメ です。 |
| Kore ha dame desu. This is no good. | これは駄目です。 これ は ダメ です。 |
| Dame ningen a useless member of society | ダメ人間 ダメ にんげん |
| Dame na otona da! An useless adult! | 駄目な大人だ！ ダメ な おとな だ！ |
| Dame ka? It doesn’t work? | ダメか？ |
| Dame datta! It didn’t work! | ダメだった！ |
| Sonna koto shicha dame da! You cannot do that! | そんなことしちゃダメだ！ |
| Kutsu wa tsui ni dame ni natta. My shoes have finally worn out. | 靴についにダメになった。 くつ に ついに ダメ に なった。 |
| Koko taberu no wa dame desu! You cannot eat here! | ここ食べるのはダメです！ ここ たべる のは ダメ です！ |
| Tamago ga dame ni natta. The eggs have become bad. | 卵がダメになった。 たまご が ダメ に なった。 |
| Katei seikatsu o dame ni shiteiru Ruining one’s family life | 家庭生活をダメにしている。 かていせいかつ を ダメ に している。 |
| dame ni naru to fail, to come to naught | 駄目になる ダメ に なる |
| dame ni suru to spoil, to waste, to ruin | 駄目にする ダメ に する |
| Kare ni susumetemo dame datta. I tried to persuade him but in vain. | 彼に勧めても駄目だった。 かれ に すすめても ダメ だった。 |
| Kami o dame ni shita. I wasted the paper. | 紙を駄目にした。 かみ を ダメ に した。 |