否定 meaning in English

fǒudìng

to negate; to deny

HSK 3verbadjective15 strokes

Meaning of 否定

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

fǒudìng

to negate
to deny
to reject
negative (answer)
negation

How to use 否定

否定 is used for rejecting an idea, plan, or result, and also as an adjective for a negative answer or attitude. It often appears in more formal speech and writing. Example: 他否定了我的想法。(Tā fǒudìngle wǒ de xiǎngfǎ.) He rejected my idea.

否 (fǒu) is 不 (bù, not) sitting on top of 口 (kǒu, mouth), so picture a mouth saying no. Add 定 (dìng, to settle) and you get settling something with a no: to negate or reject.

Common mistake: Learners often use 否定 where 否认 (fǒurèn) fits better. 否认 means to deny that a fact is true, as in 他否认偷了钱 (he denied stealing the money), while 否定 means to reject or negate an idea or value. Also keep the third tone on 否 (fǒu) and do not read it as fǒ or fù.

否定 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

谁shuí也yě不bù能néng否fǒu定dìng其qí事shì实shí。

No one can deny the fact.

先xiān肯kěn定dìng后hòu否fǒu定dìng，一yī正zhèng一yī反fǎn，就jiù分fèn外wài有yǒu力lì量liàng。

First acknowledge, then deny – one for and one against – and then you are in a powerful position.

汤tāng姆mǔ认rèn为wéi答dá案àn是shì否fǒu定dìng的de。

Tom thinks the answer is no.

他tā怎zěn么me否fǒu定dìng上shàng帝dì的de存cún在zài。

How can he deny God's existence?

我wǒ既jì不bù能néng确què认rèn也yě不bù能néng否fǒu定dìng。

I can neither confirm nor deny that.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

否 fǒu · no · 7 strokes

定 dìng · to fix · 8 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 否定.

一定	yīdìng	surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled
不一定	bùyīdìng	not necessarily; maybe
决定	juédìng	to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個\|个[ge4],項\|项[xiang4])
确定	quèdìng	definite; certain
规定	guīdìng	to stipulate; to specify; to prescribe; to fix (a price); to set (a quota); regulations; r
否认	fǒurèn	to declare to be untrue; to deny
制定	zhìdìng	to draw up; to formulate
定期	dìngqī	at set dates; at regular intervals
是否	shìfǒu	whether (or not); if
否则	fǒuzé	otherwise; if not; or (else)
说不定	shuōbudìng	can't say for sure; maybe
稳定	wěndìng	steady; stable

Questions about 否定

What does 否定 mean?

否定 (fǒudìng) means "to negate; to deny" and is used as a verb and adjective.

How do you write 否定?

否定 is made of 2 characters: 否 (7 strokes), 定 (8 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.

Is 否定 an HSK word?

Yes. 否定 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the opposite of 否定?

The usual opposite is 肯定 (kěndìng), which means to affirm or approve, and also positive or certain. For example, 肯定的回答 is a positive answer and 否定的回答 is a negative answer.

How do you say a negative sentence in grammar with 否定?

In grammar, a negative sentence is 否定句 (fǒudìngjù). A positive or affirmative sentence is 肯定句 (kěndìngjù).