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否定 (fǒu dìng) — to deny; to negate; to reject; (adjective) negative (answer, attitude, etc.)

Definition

The general 'to deny / negative' word, used for both the verb sense (rejecting an idea or claim) and the adjective sense (a negative answer/attitude). More neutral and broad than 否认 (specifically denying a fact) and 拒绝 (actively refusing a request).

verb
to denyto negateto reject
adjective
negative (answer, attitude, etc.)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 否定。
    Tā fǒu dìng le wǒ de xiǎng fǎ.
    He denied my idea.
  • 否定。
    Zhè shì yí gè fǒu dìng de huí dá.
    This is a negative answer.
  • 否定。
    Shì shí fǒu dìng le tā de shuō fǎ.
    The facts refuted his statement.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

否fǒunot
定dìngdetermine

否 means not and 定 means determine, so together they express denying or marking something as untrue.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
不
不bù否pǐ
Same sound today

否 is built from 口 (mouth) and 不 (not), with 不 giving the sound and 口 relating to speech.

Open 否 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Conflict & Agreement

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