====== fǒujué: 否决 - Veto, Overrule, Reject ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 否决, foujue, fǒujué, veto in Chinese, how to say overrule in Chinese, reject a proposal in Chinese, Chinese political vocabulary, business negotiation Chinese, UN veto Chinese, 否决 meaning, 否决 vs 拒绝.
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **否决 (fǒujué)**, the powerful Chinese verb for "to veto" or "overrule." This guide explains its use in formal contexts like politics, law, and business negotiations. Learn the crucial difference between **否决 (fǒujué)** and the more common "reject" (拒绝, jùjué), and see practical examples of how this HSK 6 term is used to block proposals and decisions with authority.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>否决</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fǒujué
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** To reject or overrule a proposal, decision, or motion, often by exercising authority; to veto.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **否决 (fǒujué)** is a strong, formal "no" that carries official weight. It's not just disagreeing; it's using one's power or position to completely block something from happening. Think of a president vetoing a bill passed by congress, or a manager shutting down a subordinate's project plan. It implies a hierarchy and a final, decisive action.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **否 (fǒu):** This character means "to negate," "no," or "not." It's one of the fundamental ways to express negation in Chinese.
  * **决 (jué):** This character means "to decide" or "to determine." It often carries a sense of finality and resolution.
  * Together, **否决 (fǒujué)** literally means "to decide in the negative" or "to make a decision of negation." This combination perfectly captures the modern meaning of vetoing or formally overruling something.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The term **否决 (fǒujué)** is almost exclusively used in formal, hierarchical environments like government, law, and large corporations. Its usage reflects a clear power dynamic.
In Western culture, the concept of a "veto" is a well-understood part of the checks-and-balances system in government. Similarly, in China, **否决 (fǒujué)** is most famously associated with the United Nations Security Council, where China is one of the five permanent members with "veto power" (**一票否决权, yī piào fǒujué quán**).
However, its use touches on the Chinese cultural value of "face" or social harmony ([[面子]], miànzi). An outright **否决 (fǒujué)** is a very direct and confrontational act. In many business or social situations, a superior might avoid using this strong term to prevent a subordinate from losing face. Instead of saying "我否决你的计划 (Wǒ fǒujué nǐ de jìhuà)" (I veto your plan), they might use softer language like "我们再考虑一下 (Wǒmen zài kǎolǜ yīxià)" (Let's reconsider this) or "这个方案可能不太成熟 (Zhège fāng'àn kěnéng bù tài chéngshú)" (This plan might not be mature enough). The act of a formal **否决 (fǒujué)** is therefore a very serious and unambiguous exercise of authority.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
You will encounter **否决 (fǒujué)** primarily in formal written and spoken contexts. It is almost never used in casual, everyday conversation among peers.
  * **Politics and Law:** This is the most common context. It's used for legislative votes, UN resolutions, and official motions.
    * e.g., "The president vetoed the bill."
  * **Business and Corporate Settings:** A board of directors, CEO, or manager can **否决** a proposal, merger, or budget. The term implies that the person or group has the final say.
    * e.g., "The committee rejected the marketing proposal."
  * **Figurative Use (Less Common):** In a family setting, a parent might jokingly say they are "vetoing" a child's request for a new video game, using the term to humorously assert their parental authority. This is the exception, not the rule.
The connotation of **否决 (fǒujué)** is neutral to negative. It is a neutral description of a formal process, but for the party whose proposal is being vetoed, it is clearly a negative outcome.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 联合国安理会的一个常任理事国**否决**了该决议。
    * Pinyin: Liánhéguó Ānlǐhuì de yīgè chángrèn lǐshìguó **fǒujué** le gāi juéyì.
    * English: A permanent member of the UN Security Council vetoed the resolution.
    * Analysis: This is a classic, textbook example of **否决** used in an international political context.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 董事会**否决**了那项合并计划。
    * Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì **fǒujué** le nà xiàng hébìng jìhuà.
    * English: The board of directors vetoed the merger plan.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in a high-level corporate setting.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 他的提议被委员会**否决**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā de tíyì bèi wěiyuánhuì **fǒujué** le.
    * English: His proposal was rejected (vetoed) by the committee.
    * Analysis: Here, the passive voice marker **被 (bèi)** is used, which is very common with **否决**.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 经理有权**否决**任何不合理的预算申请。
    * Pinyin: Jīnglǐ yǒu quán **fǒujué** rènhé bù hélǐ de yùsuàn shēnqǐng.
    * English: The manager has the authority to veto any unreasonable budget request.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the connection between **否决** and authority (**有权, yǒu quán** - to have the right/authority).
  * **Example 5:**
    * 由于缺乏资金，我们的项目申请被**否决**了。
    * Pinyin: Yóuyú quēfá zījīn, wǒmen de xiàngmù shēnqǐng bèi **fǒujué** le.
    * English: Due to a lack of funding, our project application was rejected.
    * Analysis: Shows a reason being given for the veto, a common structure in official communication.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 我担心我的计划会被老板一票**否决**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ dānxīn wǒ de jìhuà huì bèi lǎobǎn yī piào **fǒujué**.
    * English: I'm worried my plan will be vetoed outright by the boss.
    * Analysis: Uses the common phrase **一票否决 (yī piào fǒujué)**, which means "one-vote veto" or to be rejected by a single, decisive vote.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 法官**否决**了律师提出的反对意见。
    * Pinyin: Fǎguān **fǒujué** le lǜshī tíchū de fǎnduì yìjiàn.
    * English: The judge overruled the objection raised by the lawyer.
    * Analysis: An example of **否决** in a legal context, synonymous with "overrule."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这个决定性的因素**否决**了所有其他的可能性。
    * Pinyin: Zhège juédìngxìng de yīnsù **fǒujué** le suǒyǒu qítā de kěnéngxìng.
    * English: This decisive factor ruled out all other possibilities.
    * Analysis: A more abstract, figurative use of the word, where a "factor" is personified as having the power to veto outcomes.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我们不能因为一个小错误就**否决**整个团队的努力。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng yīnwèi yīgè xiǎo cuòwù jiù **fǒujué** zhěnggè tuánduì de nǔlì.
    * English: We can't negate the entire team's effort just because of one small mistake.
    * Analysis: This shows **否决** used to mean "negate" or "invalidate" in a formal, evaluative sense.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 父母**否决**了我暑假去旅行的计划。
    * Pinyin: Fùmǔ **fǒujué** le wǒ shǔjià qù lǚxíng de jìhuà.
    * English: My parents vetoed my plan to travel during summer vacation.
    * Analysis: This is an informal, almost humorous use. It emphasizes the parents' absolute authority in a family context, treating their decision like an official veto.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing **否决 (fǒujué)** with **拒绝 (jùjué)**. They can both be translated as "reject," but their usage is completely different.
  *   **否决 (fǒujué):** To veto/overrule a **plan, motion, proposal, or resolution**. It requires a position of authority. It's an official action.
  *   **拒绝 (jùjué):** To refuse/reject an **offer, invitation, request, or help**. It's a personal action and doesn't require any special authority.
**Incorrect Usage:**
  * `我否决了朋友的晚餐邀请。` (Wǒ fǒujué le péngyou de wǎncān yāoqǐng.)
  * **Why it's wrong:** Vetoing a dinner invitation is grammatically and socially bizarre. It's not a formal proposal.
  * **Correct:** `我**拒绝**了朋友的晚餐邀请。` (Wǒ **jùjué** le péngyou de wǎncān yāoqǐng.) - I refused my friend's dinner invitation.
**Incorrect Usage:**
  * `他拒绝了那个法案。` (Tā jùjué le nàge fǎ'àn.)
  * **Why it's wrong:** While not strictly impossible, if "he" is a president with veto power, **否决** is the precise and proper term for a bill (法案, fǎ'àn). **拒绝** sounds too personal and weak.
  * **Correct:** `他**否决**了那个法案。` (Tā **fǒujué** le nàge fǎ'àn.) - He vetoed that bill.
**Key takeaway:** Use **否决 (fǒujué)** for official proposals and decisions from a position of power. Use **拒绝 (jùjué)** for personal requests and invitations.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[拒绝]] (jùjué) - To refuse or reject. The more common, personal, and general term for saying no to a request or offer.
  * [[反对]] (fǎnduì) - To oppose or be against. This expresses disagreement, but doesn't necessarily mean you have the power to stop something. You can oppose a plan that ultimately gets passed.
  * [[同意]] (tóngyì) - To agree or approve. A direct antonym.
  * [[通过]] (tōngguò) - To pass or approve (a bill, a proposal). The direct opposite outcome of a proposal being vetoed.
  * [[驳回]] (bóhuí) - To reject or dismiss. Often used in legal or official contexts, like a court rejecting an appeal (驳回上诉). It's a close synonym but more specific to formal dismissals.
  * [[提案]] (tí'àn) - A proposal or a motion. This is the type of thing that is often subject to being **否决**.
  * [[一票否决权]] (yī piào fǒujué quán) - The right of one-vote veto; veto power. A critical political and business concept.
  * [[权力]] (quánlì) - Power or authority. The prerequisite for being able to **否决** something.