# cấm meaning in Vietnamese: to forbid (A2)

> cấm means “to forbid, to ban” in Vietnamese. Examples with audio.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/cam-forbid/ · Updated 2026-10-18

**cấm**: forbid

Level: A2 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: cam

## 1. forbid (verb)

to forbid, to ban

On signs it means "no": *Cấm hút thuốc*, no smoking. To ask a friend not to do something, say *đừng*.

- Ở đây cấm hút thuốc. — Smoking isn't allowed here.
- Bác sĩ cấm ông uống rượu. — The doctor has banned Grandpa from drinking alcohol.

Grammar: [Prohibited (signs and rules): cấm, không + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cam-prohibit/)

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