否认

• Pinyin: fǒu rèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 否 = 不 (not) + 口 (mouth), meaning to negate; 认 = 讠(speech) + 人 (person), meaning to recognise

Meaning

To deny; to repudiate. Refusing to admit or acknowledge something.

Used when someone refuses to acknowledge a fact, claim, or responsibility. Common in legal, news, and interpersonal contexts. Can be used for both formal denials and casual situations.

Examples

1. 他否认自己说过那样的话。 He denied ever having said such things.
2. 公司否认了这个消息。 The company denied the news.
3. 面对证据，她没有办法再否认了。 Faced with evidence, she had no way to deny it anymore.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, news, interpersonal

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他否认自己参与了这件事。(He denied that he was involved in this matter.)
• 你不能否认事实。(You cannot deny the facts.)

Don't Say

• 我否认吃晚饭 (Don't use 否认 for declining an invitation — 否认 means denying a fact or claim; for declining, use 拒绝 or simply say 不去了)

Origin & History

Compound of 否 (no, deny) and 认 (recognise, admit), together meaning to refuse to recognise or acknowledge.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal