否 (fǒu) — (bound form) negator used in formal compounds; indicates a negative answer or alternative

Definition

否 (fǒu) is a formal bound negator used in set phrases like 是否, 否则, and 否认 — it is NOT a spoken word, so you will never say it alone to mean 'no'.

bound form
negator used in formal compoundsindicates a negative answer or alternative
Easily confused

Examples

  • ？
    Zhè shì fǒu zhèng què?
    Is this correct or not?
  • ，。
    Nǐ bì xū àn shí wán chéng, fǒu zé hòu guǒ zì fù.
    You must finish on time; otherwise, you will bear the consequences.
  • 。
    Tā fǒu rèn le suǒ yǒu zhǐ kòng.
    He denied all the charges.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

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