How to say "rejection" in Japanese

• 却下きゃっかCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbRejecting a proposal, motion, or petition by deciding it is not worth considering, often by an authority such as a court or parliament; it means dismissal rather than personal refusal.
  議長ぎちょうはその提案ていあんを却下きゃっかした。↗

  The chairman rejected the proposal.
• 拒否きょひJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbRefusal or rejection of a demand, proposal, or bill, often by asserting the right to say no; it also covers a veto. The tone is firm refusal of something offered or required.
  私はその質問しつもんに答こたえることを拒否きょひする。↗

  I refuse to answer the question.
• 拒絶きょぜつJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe broadest word for rejecting someone or something: turning down a request, offer, or confession, or shutting a person out. It is the usual choice for rejection in personal or emotional contexts.
  彼かれの返答へんとうは拒絶きょぜつも同然どうぜんだ。↗

  His answer amounts to a refusal.
• 排斥はいせきCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbRejection in the sense of excluding, shunning, or driving out people or things, as in ostracism, boycotts, or expulsion from a group; not the word for turning down a request.
  その国くにでは日本製品にほんせいひんを排斥はいせきする運動うんどうが起おこっている。↗

  There is a movement against Japanese goods in that country.
• 棄却ききゃくCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbFormal rejection or dismissal, especially of a petition, appeal, or objection; like 却下 it concerns disposing of submitted matters, and is chiefly at home in legal and procedural contexts.

Use 拒絶 for rejecting a person, request, or advance, 拒否 for refusal or vetoing, 却下 and 棄却 for dismissing proposals or legal cases, and 排斥 for social rejection or ostracism.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 却下きゃっかrejection
• 拒否きょひrefusal
• 拒絶きょぜつrefusal
• 排斥はいせきrejection
• 棄却ききゃくrejection
• 否決ひけつrejection
• 不合格ふごうかく(examination) failure
• 不成立ふせいりつfailure (e.g. of a bill, motion)
• リジェクトrejection
• 欠格けっかくrejection
• 阻却そきゃくrejection
• 排撃はいげきrejection
• 擯斥ひんせきrejection
• 不採用ふさいようrejection (of an application)
• ボツrejection (of a manuscript, etc.)
• 指弾しだんcriticism
• 意気阻喪いきそそうdepressed in spirits
• 不裁可ふさいかveto
• 不認可ふにんかdisapproval
• お断りおことわりdeclining
• つまはじきshunning
• 拒絶反応きょぜつはんのう(transplant) rejection
• 没ぼつrejection (of a manuscript, etc.)
• 断りことわりrejection
• 落選らくせんnot being accepted (for a prize, exhibition, etc.)
• 肘鉄ひじてつrejection
• 肘鉄砲ひじでっぽうrejection
• 拒否反応きょひはんのう(transplant) rejection