否 means “no, deny”

ひ · hi

Also: negate, noes, refuse

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いな, いや

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヒ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 6 · 7 strokes

The story

A mouth (口) saying not (不): the word no. It runs through formal Japanese: 否定 is denial, 拒否 is refusal, and 賛否両論 sums up an issue that splits opinion down the middle.

Used in 否定 (hitei, denial), 拒否 (kyohi, refusal), and 賛否 (sanpi, approval or disapproval)

More from Council & Debate

• 許 permit
• 賛 approve
• 議 debate
• 対 versus
• 定 fix
• 選 choose
• 決 decide
• 反 against
• 判 judgment
• 認 recognize
• 参 join
• 論 argument

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.