How to say "reject" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 断ることわるgodan verb, transitive verbReject as turning something down: refusing an offer, invitation, proposal or request. The natural choice when someone asks or offers something and you say no.
- 拒むこばむgodan verb, transitive verbReject as firm, deliberate refusal: resisting a demand or an attempt to force something on you. Stronger and more forceful than 断る; the refusal is active opposition.
- 蹴るけるgodan verb, transitive verbBasically means to kick. As reject it is a blunt, physical image — spurning a suggestion or plan as if kicking it away — and is seldom the word you want for ordinary rejection.
- ichidan verb, transitive verbReject as elimination or exclusion: getting rid of something, knocking it out of consideration. Usually written in kana; natural when unsuitable things are weeded out rather than merely declined.
For reject, 「断る」 turns down offers and requests, 「拒む」 refuses firmly as if resisting, 「はねる」 eliminates or excludes, and 「蹴る」, basically to kick, is a blunt marginal choice.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 断ることわるto refuse
- 拒むこばむto refuse
- 跳ね返すはねかえすto reject
- 退けるしりぞけるto refuse
- 弾き返すはじきかえすto reject
- 突っぱねるつっぱねるto reject
- ぼつにするto reject (a manuscript)
- 拒否るきょひるto refuse
- 排するはいするto push aside
- はねつけるto flatly refuse
- 突き戻すつきもどすto thrust back
- ボツるto scrap (work in progress, esp. illustration)
- 不合格品ふごうかくひんrejected goods
- 落とすおとすto lose (a match)
- 蹴るけるto refuse
- はねるto reject
- はねのけるto reject
- 突き返すつきかえすto reject
- 突っ返すつっかえすto reject
- 振るふるto turn down (someone)
- 流すながすto cancel (a plan, meeting, etc.)
- 振り切るふりきるto reject (request)
See also
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