Meaning of 否认
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to declare to be untrue
- to deny
How to use 否认
否认 is a fairly formal verb used when someone says a claim, fact, or accusation is not true. It often takes a direct object or a clause. Example: 他否认自己拿了钱。(Tā fǒurèn zìjǐ ná le qián.) He denied that he took the money.
否 (fǒu) means "not" or "no", and 认 (rèn) means to recognize or admit, as in 认识 (rènshi). Put them together and you "do not admit" something, which is to deny it.
Common mistake: Learners often use 否认 for refusing a request, but that is 拒绝 (jùjué). 否认 only means denying that something is true. Also note the third tone on 否 (fǒu), not fōu or fòu.
否认 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
否 fǒu · no · 7 strokes
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- 2
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- 7
认 rèn · to recognize · 4 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 否认.
| 认识 | rènshi | to know; to recognize |
| 认真 | rènzhēn | conscientious; earnest |
| 认为 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel |
| 认得 | rènde | to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it |
| 认出 | rènchū | recognition; to recognize |
| 认可 | rènkě | to approve; approval |
| 否定 | fǒudìng | to negate; to deny |
| 是否 | shìfǒu | whether (or not); if |
| 否则 | fǒuzé | otherwise; if not; or (else) |
| 承认 | chéngrèn | to admit; to concede |
| 确认 | quèrèn | to confirm; to verify |
| 认定 | rèndìng | to maintain (that sth is true); to determine (a fact) |
Questions about 否认
What does 否认 mean?
否认 (fǒurèn) means "to declare to be untrue; to deny" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 否认?
否认 is made of 2 characters: 否 (7 strokes), 认 (4 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 否认 an HSK word?
Yes. 否认 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 否认 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 否认 is written 否認.
What is the opposite of 否认?
The usual opposite is 承认 (chéngrèn), to admit or acknowledge. For example, 他承认了错误 (tā chéngrèn le cuòwù) means he admitted his mistake.
Can I use 否认 in everyday conversation?
Yes, but it sounds a bit serious, like in news reports or arguments. In casual speech people often just say 他说不是 (tā shuō bú shì), he said it wasn't so. A common set phrase is 不可否认 (bùkě fǒurèn), it cannot be denied.