Readings: ヒ (Onyomi), いな, いや (Kunyomi)
Meaning: negate, no, refuse, decline, deny
The kanji 否 is thought to be a combination of 口 (kuchi, “mouth”) and 疋 (hiki, “small piece of cloth” or “foot”), which collectively suggest the act of refusal or denial, like putting something away or stopping it with a word from the mouth. Another interpretation suggests it represents a mouth with an “X” mark, signifying negation.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 否 has 7 strokes. It starts with the box radical 口, followed by the strokes that make up the lower right part.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 口 (くち) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ヒ (HI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- いな (ina)
- いや (iya)
Common Words Using 否
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 否定 | ひてい | negation, denial |
| 可否 | かひ | propriety, right or wrong, yes/no, approval/disapproval |
| 否決 | ひけつ | rejection, voting down, disapproval |
| 拒否 | きょひ | refusal, rejection, denial |
| 是非 | ぜひ | without fail, by all means; right and wrong, pros and cons |
| 諾否 | だくひ | acceptance or rejection |
| 賛否 | さんぴ | approval and disapproval, pros and cons |
| 否認 | ひにん | denial, disavowal, repudiation |
| 善否 | ぜんぴ | good or bad |
| 否応 | いやおう | yes or no, whether one will or not (often used with なく) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 否 | いや | no, nay (interjection, expression of disagreement) |
| 否 | いな | no, nay (more formal interjection, often literary) |
| 否応なしに | いやおうなしに | willy-nilly, whether one will or not, without consent |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼の提案は全員に否決された。
Kana: かれのていあんはぜんいんにひけつされた。
Romaji: Kare no teian wa zen’in ni hiketsu sareta.
English: His proposal was rejected by everyone.
Japanese: その報告書の真否を確かめる必要がある。
Kana: そのほうこくしょのしんぴをたしかめるひつようがある。
Romaji: Sono houkokusho no shinpi wo tashikameru hitsuyou ga aru.
English: It is necessary to confirm the truth or falsity of that report.
Japanese: 彼女は私の誘いをきっぱりと拒否した。
Kana: かのじょはわたしのさそいをきっぱりときょひした。
Romaji: Kanojo wa watashi no sasoi wo kippari to kyohi shita.
English: She flatly rejected my invitation.
Japanese: それは否としか言いようがない。
Kana: それはいやとしかいいようがない。
Romaji: Sore wa iya to shika ii you ga nai.
English: There’s nothing to say but “no.”
Japanese: 試験の可否は、あなたの努力にかかっている。
Kana: しけんのかひは、あなたのどりょくにかかっている。
Romaji: Shiken no kahi wa, anata no doryoku ni kakatte iru.
English: The success or failure of the exam depends on your effort.
Japanese: この計画の賛否を問う。
Kana: このけいかくのさんぴをとう。
Romaji: Kono keikaku no sanpi wo tou.
English: We ask for the pros and cons of this plan.
Japanese: 彼は自分の間違いを否認している。
Kana: かれはまちがいをひにんしている。
Romaji: Kare wa jibun no machigai wo hinin shiteiru.
English: He is denying his mistake.
Japanese: 是非一度、京都に来てください。
Kana: ぜひいちど、きょうとにきてください。
Romaji: Zehi ichido, Kyōto ni kite kudasai.
English: Please come to Kyoto at least once, by all means.
Japanese: 彼の要求に否応なく従った。
Kana: かれのようきゅうにいやおうなくしたがった。
Romaji: Kare no youkyuu ni iyaou naku shitsugatta.
English: I obeyed his request whether I wanted to or not.
Japanese: 全ての質問に否と答えた。
Kana: すべてのしつもんにいなとこたえた。
Romaji: Subete no shitsumon ni ina to kotaeta.
English: I answered “no” to all questions.
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