否

fǒu, pǐ

不 + 口

Definitions

fǒu (particle) no; not

pǐ (adjective) bad; evil

Etymology

Originally the same character as 不. Distinguishing component 口 was added later to the character when it took on the meaning "not". 不 represents the sound.

Semantic: 不 Phonetic: 口

About

否 originally shared the same form as 不, with the mouth radical 口 added later when it assumed the specific meaning "not". 不 now serves as the phonetic component. In its structure, 口 sits below 不, combining the semantic of negation with the mouth radical to emphasize the verbal act. Its primary meanings are to deny, say no, disagree, or reject a proposition. Functionally, it serves as a formal negative marker, often appearing as a direct negative response in interrogative sentences.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

你是否喜欢这本书？

Nǐ shìfǒu xǐhuān zhè běn shū?

Do you like this book?

他否定了我的建议。

Tā fǒudìng le wǒ de jiànyì.

He denied my suggestion.

快起床，否则你会迟到。

Kuài qǐchuáng, fǒuzé nǐ huì chídào.

Get up quickly, otherwise you'll be late.

我不知道他是否会来。

Wǒ bù zhīdào tā shìfǒu huì lái.

I don't know whether he will come.

这个理论被科学家否定了。

Zhège lǐlùn bèi kēxuéjiā fǒudìng le.

This theory was denied by scientists.

你必须努力学习，否则无法通过考试。

Nǐ bìxū nǔlì xuéxí, fǒuzé wúfǎ tōngguò kǎoshì.

You must study hard, otherwise you cannot pass the exam.

公司是否批准了这个项目？

Gōngsī shìfǒu pīzhǔn le zhège xiàngmù?

Did the company approve this project?

无论结果是否令人满意，我们都要接受。

Wúlùn jiéguǒ shìfǒu lìng rén mǎnyì, wǒmen dōu yào jiēshòu.

Regardless of whether the result is satisfactory, we must accept it.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 不

Component: 口

否