About
The character "否" is structurally composed of "不", meaning not, and "口", signifying mouth or speech, which together etymologically convey the concept of verbal negation or refusal. Its meaning initially centered on denial but gradually broadened to encompass notions of badness or unfavorability, often appearing in contrast with affirmative terms such as "可" in classical usage. This evolution allowed the character to function not only as a negative particle but also to integrate into binomial expressions and compounds that articulate opposition or adverse conditions, thereby extending its semantic range while maintaining its core association with contradiction.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
你是否喜欢这本书？
他否定了我的建议。
快起床，否则你会迟到。
我不知道他是否会来。
这个理论被科学家否定了。
你必须努力学习，否则无法通过考试。
公司是否批准了这个项目？
无论结果是否令人满意，我们都要接受。