否

Traditionally analyzed as a compound ideograph:

口 (구) – represents “speech”

不 (불) – represents “not”

Together they literally mean “speech of not,” “saying no” or “words of denial.”

In classical usage, the sense broadened to describe blocked or unfavorable conditions, especially in cosmological or political discourse.

Semantic development:

- verbal negation — “no; not”

- judgment — approval vs. rejection

- state of affairs — blockage; adverse condition (classical)

否 carries two main readings and meanings:

부 (아닐) - “not,” “to deny,” “negative” (부정하다);

비 (막힐) - “to block, obstruct, reject” (막히다).

Common compounds:

부정 (否定) — negation; to deny

가부 (可否) — approval or disapproval; yes/no

존부 (存否) — existence or nonexistence

부결 (否決) — rejection (of a motion)

폐색 (閉塞) / 부색 (否塞) — blockage; stagnation (classical)

Classical contrasts:

태평 ↔ 비색 (否塞) — prosperity ↔ blockage

가부지간 (可否之間) — between yes and no

不 vs. 否:

不 is the basic negation used in ordinary sentences (like “not” in English);

否 describes the act of negating or rejecting from a third-party or objective stance.

For example:

不承認 – “not to approve” (basic negation);

否決 – “to vote down / to reject” (formal rejection).

Unlike 不 (general negation), 否 often implies explicit denial or judgment.

Related characters (negation & judgment):

不 — not

非 — wrong; not

無 — without; none

拒 — reject

決 — decide (often contrasted with 否)

Among these, 否 centers on explicit rejection or judgment.

In the Korean National Assembly, during a roll-call or anonymous vote:

가 (可) = approval

부 (否) = disapproval

기권 = abstention

Many lawmakers mistakenly write 不 for “부” instead of 否, resulting in invalid votes.