否

2 readings · tap one to hear it

to negate; to deny; not

Sound it out + = · + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

不 meaning “no” + 口 sound ( kǒu )

Components 不口

negate · Heisig RSH #992

no symbol + 口 mouth

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
不置可否	bù zhì kě fǒu	decline to comment; not express an opinion; be noncommittal; hedge
否极泰来	pǐ jí tài lái	extreme sorrow turns to joy (idiom)
未置可否	wèi zhì kě fǒu	to refuse to comment; same as 不置可否
真否定句	zhēn fǒu dìng jù	true negative (TN)
否定句	fǒu dìng jù	negative sentence
否决权	fǒu jué quán	veto power
会否	huì fǒu	can or cannot; is it possible?
否定	fǒu dìng	to negate; to deny; to reject; negative (answer); negation
可否	kě fǒu	is it possible or not?
否决票	fǒu jué piào	veto
能否	néng fǒu	whether one can; whether it is possible
是否	shì fǒu	whether (or not); if; is or isn't
矢口否认	shǐ kǒu fǒu rèn	to deny flatly
否决	fǒu jué	to veto; to overrule
否认	fǒu rèn	to declare to be untrue; to deny
否则	fǒu zé	otherwise; if not; or (else)
与否	yǔ fǒu	whether or not (at the end of a phrase)
陟罚臧否	zhì fá zāng pǐ	(idiom) to evaluate the merits and demerits of; (esp. in formal, ethical or societal conte…

Characters sharing the sound component 口 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
口 sound part	kǒu	mouth; entrance, gate, opening
可	kě	may, can, -able; possibly
扣	kòu	to detain; to knock, to tap; button
叩	kòu	to ask; to bow, to kowtow; to knock