拒む|こばむkobamu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto refuse; to reject; to decline
- godan verb, transitive verbto prevent (from doing); to deny (e.g. access); to block
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 拒む（こばむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 拒みます（こばみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 拒まない（こばまない） |
| polite (masen) | 拒みません（こばみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 拒まず・拒まぬ（こばまず・こばまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 拒んだ（こばんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 拒みました（こばみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 拒まなかった（こばまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 拒みませんでした（こばみませんでした） |
| Te form | 拒んで（こばんで） |
| Potential | 拒める（こばめる） |
| Passive | 拒まれる（こばまれる） |
| Causative | 拒ませる（こばませる） |
| Causative passive | 拒ませられる・拒まされる（こばませられる・こばまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 拒めば（こばめば） |
| tara | 拒んだら（こばんだら） |
| Volitional | 拒もう（こばもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 拒みましょう（こばみましょう） |
| Imperative | 拒め（こばめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym断ることわるNeutralThe everyday verb for turning things down; it centers on declining requests, while 「拒む」 is more written and also covers blocking entry.
- Synonym辞退じたいNeutralFor declining a post or award, or withdrawing from a competition; it stresses actively turning down something offered out of kindness.
- Synonym拒否きょひNeutralRefusal or veto, as in 「拒否権」; stresses formal rejection.
- Synonym謝絶しゃぜつNeutralMeans declining or refusing, as in 「面会謝絶」; it suggests a refusal announced like a notice.
- Synonym拝辞はいじWrittenA humble term for respectfully declining an invitation, post, or the like; written.
- Related振り切るふりきるNeutralTo shake off or break free, also ignoring pleas, as in 「引き留めを振り切る」; it is forceful escape, while 「拒む」 is not accepting a demand.
- Related拒絶きょぜつWrittenAn out-and-out refusal; it leaves the other side no room, and leans written and formal.
- Related遠慮えんりょNeutralTo hold back or politely decline, as in 「遠慮します」; it stresses tact.
- Related突っぱねるつっぱねるCasualTo flatly refuse or push back; stresses a hard-line attitude. Colloquial.
- Related退けるしりぞけるNeutralTo dismiss or repel; stresses pushing the other party away, and works for enemies or proposals.
- RelatedはねつけるNeutralTo flatly turn something down or rebuff it; stresses an unyielding attitude.
- Related拒否るきょひるCasualSlang for refusing; a young people's word with a casual feel, avoided in formal settings.
- Related否むいなむWrittenTo deny or refuse; mostly seen in the form 「否めない」. Written.
- Related払いのけるはらいのけるNeutralTo brush or wave aside; stresses the physical motion and is not used for turning down requests.
- Antonym受け入れるうけいれるNeutralTo accept or take in; the opposite of 「拒む」 shutting something or someone out.
- Antonym承諾するNeutralTo consent or agree; the opposite of 「拒む」 when it refuses a demand.
Use 「拒む」 for refusing a demand or blocking entry — it leans written, as in 「入国を拒む」「要求を拒む」. In daily speech say 「断る」; in formal contexts 「拒否」 or 「拒絶」; to decline a kind offer, 「辞退」. The antonym is 「受け入れる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
