Japanese word

拒む

Pronunciation

Romajikobamu

Meaning

  • verbrefuse

Example

彼は私の助けを拒みます。kare wa watashi no tasu ke o koba mi ma su

He refuses my help.

Illustration for 拒む (refuse)

More examples

その店は、礼儀を欠いた客の入店を拒みました。so no mise wa rei gi o ka i ta kyaku no nyū ten o koba mi ma shi ta

The store refused entry to a customer who lacked manners.

Core concept

Expresses active resistance to taking in or agreeing to something directed toward the subject.

Common phrases

  • 要求を拒むyō kyū o koba mu

    refuse a demand

  • 誘いを拒むsaso i o koba mu

    refuse an invitation

  • 申し出を拒むmō shi de o koba mu

    refuse an offer

Similar words

断るkotowaru: To say that a request, offer, invitation, or proposal cannot be accepted.
拒否するkyohisuru: To refuse to accept or comply with a request, demand, or proposal.
拒絶するkyozetsusuru: To reject something firmly and completely, often in a formal context.
固辞するkojisuru: To decline an offer or request firmly.

Definition in Japanese

相手の申し出や作用を受け入れることをはっきり断ること。ai te no mō shi de ya sa yō o u ke i re ru ko to o ha kki ri kotowa ru ko to

Word origin

The word 拒む (kobamu) belongs to native Japanese vocabulary, while the character 拒 (kyo, "refuse") is its meaning-based written form, so the character does not explain the verb's origin.

Usage tips

  • News and formal writing use 拒む (kobamu) for institutions or groups that resist pressure, demands, or change, so the subject need not be a person.

Other meanings

  • declineverb
  • rejectverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word