不服

ふふく

dissatisfaction, discontent, disapproval

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"不服" primarily means 'to not accept' or 'to be dissatisfied with' a decision, result, or authority. It often implies a refusal to obey or submit, especially in formal or competitive contexts such as legal disputes, competitions, or workplace situations.

Common Contexts

  • Expressing disagreement with an official decision or judgment.
  • Showing unwillingness to accept defeat or criticism.
  • Describing disobedience or noncompliance in hierarchical relationships.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 不服 (bù fúqì): unwilling to accept or admit defeat; often used to describe someone's attitude.
  • 不服 (bù fúcóng): disobedient; not complying with orders or rules.
  • 表示不服 (biǎoshì bùfú): to express dissatisfaction or refusal to accept.

Usage Notes

"不服" is more formal and often used in written or official contexts compared to casual expressions of disagreement. It can be used both as a verb and an adjective. Avoid confusing it with "服从" (to obey), as "不服" negates submission or acceptance.

Tone and Register

The term carries a somewhat serious or confrontational tone, suitable for disputes or formal disagreements rather than casual complaints.

Example Sentences

He expressed dissatisfaction with the competition result and requested a

He was unwilling to accept it and decided to try again.

Facing disobedient employees, the manager took strict measures.