Korean word

거절하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeojeolhada

Meaning

  • verbrefuse

Example

친구의 부탁을 거절했어요.chin gu ui pu ta geul keo jeol hae sseo yo

I refused my friend's request.

Illustration for 거절하다 (refuse)

More examples

그는 제안을 거절했어요.keu neun che a neul keo jeol hae sseo yo

He refused the offer.

Core concept

A clear verbal or physical signal that a request or offer will not be accepted.

Common phrases

  • 초대를 거절하다cho dae reul keo jeol ha da

    refuse an invitation

  • 제안을 거절하다che a neul keo jeol ha da

    refuse an offer

  • 요청을 거절하다yo cheong eul keo jeol ha da

    refuse a request

Similar words

거부하다keobuhada: Rejecting proposed terms, rules, or demands through a firm decision.
사양하다sayanghada: Politely declining a gift, invitation, or offer of help.

Definition in Korean

상대가 한 부탁이나 제안에 대해 받아들이지 않겠다는 뜻을 말이나 행동으로 분명히 나타내는 동사.sang dae ga han pu ta gi na che a ne tae hae pa da deu ri ji an ket tta neun tteu seul ma ri na haeng dong eu ro pun myeong hi na ta nae neun tong sa

Word origin

It is formed from the Sino-Korean noun 거절 (geojeol, "refusal") plus 하다 (hada, "to do"), giving the verb sense of refusing.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, a bare refusal can sound blunt, so speakers often soften it with an apology or an indirect expression.

Other meanings

  • rejectverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 거절keojeolrefusalnoun
  • 거절당하다keojeoldanghadabe refusedverb
  • 거절권keojeolgwonright of refusalnoun

Word lists with this word