'否认' (fǒu rèn) is a verb meaning 'to deny' — specifically, to refuse to admit or accept the truth or existence of something. The first character 否 (fǒu) means 'no', 'not', or 'negation', while 认 (rèn) means 'to recognize', 'to acknowledge', or 'to admit'. Together, they literally convey 'to not recognize/acknowledge', forming a compound that expresses active rejection of a claim, fact, or responsibility. It often carries a formal or serious tone and appears in contexts involving truth, blame, evidence, or official statements.

This word is commonly used in legal, journalistic, academic, or interpersonal situations where someone rejects an accusation, refutes evidence, or refuses to accept an established fact. It implies intentionality and often suggests defensiveness or resistance to accountability. Unlike casual words like 'no' or 'not', 否认 is not used for simple negation of verbs or adjectives; it’s reserved for denying propositions, allegations, or facts.