-नु हुँदैन

Saying What Is Not Allowed

Level 2Sounds Like nu hum̐daina

Stem + -नु, then हुँदैन, means you must not.

How It Works

This pattern builds a ban. Take the -नु form of the verb and add हुँदैन.

BanMeaning
यहाँ बस्नु हुँदैन।You must not sit here.
झुट बोल्नु हुँदैन।You must not lie.
बाटोमा दगुर्नु हुँदैन।You must not run on the road.

The two words stay apart: -नु and हुँदैन. This is unlike -नुपर्छ, which is one word. The doer is often left out, because the rule is for everyone.

You can see the pattern on signs and hear it from parents: यहाँ फोटो खिच्नु हुँदैन (no photos here). A teacher says it to a class: कक्षामा खानु हुँदैन.

To ask for permission, Nepali uses the -न form with हुन्छ: यहाँ बस्न हुन्छ? (may I sit here?). Compare -नुपर्दैन, which mostly means there is no need.

Examples (5)

  1. यहाँ बस्नु हुँदैन।

    You must not sit here.

    बस्नु plus हुँदैन makes a ban.

  2. झुट बोल्नु हुँदैन।

    You must not lie.

    The doer is left out because the rule is for everyone.

  3. बाटोमा दगुर्नु हुँदैन।

    You must not run on the road.

    दगुर्नु means to run.

  4. कक्षामा खानु हुँदैन।

    You must not eat in class.

    A teacher's rule.

  5. बच्चाले धेरै मिठाई खानु हुँदैन।

    A child must not eat too many sweets.

    The doer can be named with ले.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-नु हुँदैनLevel 2Saying What Is Not Allowed

Learn This First

-नु हुँदैन says what is not allowed.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.