Japanese word

否

Pronunciation

Romajiina

Meaning

  • interjectionno

Example

否、その案には反対です。ina so no an ni wa han tai de su

Nay, I oppose that plan.

Illustration for 否 (no)

More examples

否、今日はその会議に参加しません。ina kyō wa so no kai gi ni san ka shi ma se n

No, I will not attend that meeting today.

Core concept

Signals that the speaker firmly rejects an idea, statement, or request.

Similar words

いいえiie: A standard polite interjection used to give a negative answer or reject something.
いやiya: A casual interjection used to reject a statement or correct an assumption.
ううんūn: A casual interjection used to give a negative answer in relaxed conversation.

Definition in Japanese

相手の発言や申し出を否定し、反対の意を表す語。ai te no hatsu gen ya mō shi de o hi tei shi han tai no i o arawa su go

Word origin

否 (ina, "no") is the native Japanese reading of the Sino-Japanese character 否, which has the on reading hi and expresses denial or refusal.

Usage tips

  • At the beginning of a reply, 否 (ina, "no") can sound more formal than the everyday response いいえ (iie, "no").

Opposites

  • 是zeyesinterjection

Related words

  • 否定するhiteisurudenyverb
  • 否定hiteinegationnoun
  • 否定的hiteitekinegativena-adjective

Word lists with this word