The word 否定 is formed by combining two characters: 否 (fǒu), which carries the core meaning of "not" or "to deny", and 定 (dìng), which means "to decide", "to set", or "to affirm". Together, they create a conceptual sequence where 定 represents an established affirmation or conclusion, and 否 acts upon it to reverse or negate that state. Thus, the formation is essentially a logical and semantic fusion meaning "to negate (否) that which has been affirmed or settled (定)".