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道Nihongo Path
拒

拒·refuse, reject, resist

On-yomi
キョ
Kun-yomi
こば(む)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

8 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
拒否きょひrefusal, rejection
拒むこばむto refuse, to reject
拒絶きょぜつrejection, refusal
拒否権きょひけんveto

Example sentences

  1. 彼は会社の要求を拒否した。

    かれはかいしゃのようきゅうをきょひした。

    He refused the company's demands.

  2. 面会を拒まれて、話すことができなかった。

    めんかいをこばまれて、はなすことができなかった。

    I was refused a meeting and could not speak with him.

  3. 移植した臓器に拒絶反応が出た。

    いしょくしたぞうきにきょぜつはんのうがでた。

    The transplanted organ showed a rejection reaction.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 拒否 is きょひ; do not read it as きょう.
  • 拒む is こばむ. Its formal noun equivalent is 拒否; 断る is the everyday word.

Memory aid

Picture it

A hand 扌 holding up something huge 巨 to block the way: refusing.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 拒 mean?