否決

ひけつ

rejection, negation, voting down

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"否決" (ひけつ) means "rejection" or "voting down" and is commonly used in formal or official contexts such as meetings, committees, or legislative bodies. It refers specifically to the act of rejecting a proposal, motion, or bill through a vote.

Common Contexts

You will often see "否決" used when discussing decisions made by groups or organizations, especially when a proposal or plan is not accepted. It is a noun and often appears with verbs like "される" (to be done) or "する" (to do).

Collocations and Patterns

  • 否決される: to be rejected/voted down
  • 提案が否決される: a proposal is rejected
  • 議案が否決される: a bill is voted down

Register and Nuance

"否決" is formal and typically used in written or formal spoken Japanese, such as news reports, official documents, or business meetings. It is not used in casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "否決" with "拒否" (きょひ), which also means "refusal" or "rejection" but is more general and can apply to refusing requests or offers. "否決" specifically refers to rejection by vote or formal decision-making processes.

Example Sentences

そのていあんはいんかいでひけつされた。

That proposal was rejected by the committee.

ぎあんがひけつされたため、けいかくはちゅうしになった。

Because the bill was voted down, the plan was canceled.

かれのいけんはひけつされてしまったが、あきらめずにさいていあんした。

His opinion was rejected, but he didn’t give up and proposed it again.