====== bóhuí: 驳回 - To Reject, Overrule, Dismiss ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** bohui, 驳回, reject in Chinese, overrule in Chinese, dismiss a case Chinese, deny an application Chinese, Chinese legal terms, how to say reject a proposal, turn down a request, bo hui
  * **Summary:** Learn the formal Chinese verb **驳回 (bóhuí)**, a crucial term for understanding official, legal, and business contexts. Meaning to "reject," "overrule," or "dismiss," **驳回 (bóhuí)** signifies a formal denial of a request, proposal, or legal appeal by an authority. This guide breaks down its usage in courts, government offices, and corporate settings, contrasting it with the more general term for "refuse," [[拒绝]] (jùjué).
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>驳回</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bóhuí
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** To formally reject, overrule, or dismiss a request, proposal, appeal, or legal case.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **驳回 (bóhuí)** as the official stamp that says "DENIED." It's not the word you use to turn down a friend's dinner invitation. Instead, it's used by a figure or institution of authority—like a judge dismissing a lawsuit, a government office denying a visa application, or a manager formally rejecting an employee's proposal. The word carries a sense of finality and is based on rules, regulations, or a lack of merit.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **驳 (bó):** This character means "to refute," "to contradict," or "to argue against." It's composed of the radical for horse, 马 (mǎ), and a phonetic component. While the horse connection is historical, today it's primarily associated with disputing or countering an argument.
  * **回 (huí):** This character simply and clearly means "to return" or "to go back." It's a foundational character that depicts a spiral or something turning back on itself.
  * When combined, **驳回 (bóhuí)** literally means "to refute and send back." This paints a vivid picture: an authority examines a request or case, finds it lacking, refutes its claims, and sends it back to the originator, effectively closing the matter.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
**驳回 (bóhuí)** is a word deeply embedded in the formal, hierarchical structures of Chinese society, particularly in its legal and bureaucratic systems. The act of "bóhuí" is not a negotiation or a simple disagreement; it is a top-down decision made by an entity with the power to do so.
In Western culture, particularly American culture, "rejection" can be a very broad concept, ranging from a casual "no" to a formal denial. The English word "reject" doesn't inherently carry the same weight of formality as **驳回 (bóhuí)**. For example, you can "reject" a theory or "reject" a friend's offer. In Chinese, these situations would call for different words. **驳回** is specifically reserved for contexts where a formal process is involved. This reflects a cultural emphasis on procedure, documentation, and respect for the final decision of an authoritative body, whether it's a court, a government agency, or a company's management. Using this word correctly shows a sophisticated understanding of social and professional registers in China.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**驳回 (bóhuí)** is almost exclusively used in formal written and spoken Chinese. You will frequently encounter it in news reports, legal documents, and official correspondence.
  * **Legal Context:** This is the most common usage. Courts **驳回** appeals, lawsuits, and motions.
    * e.g., 法院**驳回**了被告的上诉。(Fǎyuàn **bóhuí** le bèigào de shàngsù.) - The court dismissed the defendant's appeal.
  * **Administrative & Governmental Context:** Government agencies **驳回** applications for visas, permits, licenses, patents, etc.
    * e.g., 他的签证申请因材料不全被**驳回**了。(Tā de qiānzhèng shēnqǐng yīn cáiliào bù quán bèi **bóhuí** le.) - His visa application was rejected due to incomplete materials.
  * **Formal Business/Corporate Context:** A superior or a committee may **驳回** a proposal, a request for funding, or a formal plan submitted by an employee or a department.
    * e.g., 董事会**驳回**了关于新项目的提议。(Dǒngshìhuì **bóhuí** le guānyú xīn xiàngmù de tíyì.) - The board of directors rejected the proposal for the new project.
The connotation is neutral but firm and decisive. It is not inherently negative or insulting; it simply states the outcome of a formal evaluation process.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 最高法院**驳回**了他的上诉。
    * Pinyin: Zuìgāo fǎyuàn **bóhuí** le tā de shàngsù.
    * English: The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal.
    * Analysis: A classic and very common legal usage of the term.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 由于证据不足，法官**驳回**了此案。
    * Pinyin: Yóuyú zhèngjù bùzú, fǎguān **bóhuí** le cǐ àn.
    * English: Due to insufficient evidence, the judge dismissed the case.
    * Analysis: Here, a reason for the **驳回** is provided, which is very common in official statements.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我们的预算申请不幸被管理层**驳回**了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de yùsuàn shēnqǐng bùxìng bèi guǎnlǐcéng **bóhuí** le.
    * English: Unfortunately, our budget request was rejected by the management.
    * Analysis: This example uses the passive voice with `被 (bèi)`, which is very common with **驳回** since the subject is often the recipient of the rejection.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 编辑**驳回**了我的稿件，并建议我做一些重大修改。
    * Pinyin: Biānjí **bóhuí** le wǒ de gǎojiàn, bìng jiànyì wǒ zuò yīxiē zhòngdà xiūgǎi.
    * English: The editor rejected my manuscript and suggested I make some major revisions.
    * Analysis: This shows usage in a formal professional context outside of law, like publishing.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 专利局**驳回**了该公司的专利申请。
    * Pinyin: Zhuānlìjú **bóhuí** le gāi gōngsī de zhuānlì shēnqǐng.
    * English: The patent office rejected the company's patent application.
    * Analysis: A typical example from a government/administrative context.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 他的无理要求当场被**驳回**。
    * Pinyin: Tā de wúlǐ yāoqiú dāngchǎng bèi **bóhuí**.
    * English: His unreasonable demand was rejected on the spot.
    * Analysis: This sentence has a stronger, more negative tone because of `无理要求` (unreasonable demand), but the formality of **驳回** remains.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 如果信息填写不正确，您的申请将被自动**驳回**。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ xìnxī tiánxiě bù zhèngquè, nín de shēnqǐng jiāng bèi zìdòng **bóhuí**.
    * English: If the information is filled out incorrectly, your application will be automatically rejected.
    * Analysis: Often seen in instructions on application forms, highlighting its procedural nature.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 委员会以七票对三票的表决结果**驳回**了这项动议。
    * Pinyin: Wěiyuánhuì yǐ qī piào duì sān piào de biǎojué jiéguǒ **bóhuí** le zhè xiàng dòngyì.
    * English: The committee rejected the motion with a vote of seven to three.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates its use in parliamentary or committee proceedings.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 他提出的所有论点都被对手一一**驳回**。
    * Pinyin: Tā tíchū de suǒyǒu lùndiǎn dōu bèi duìshǒu yīyī **bóhuí**.
    * English: All the arguments he raised were refuted one by one by his opponent.
    * Analysis: A slightly more abstract usage, where "arguments" in a formal debate are being "rejected" or "refuted."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 政府**驳回**了建造新化工厂的提议，理由是环保问题。
    * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ **bóhuí** le jiànzào xīn huàgōngchǎng de tíyì, lǐyóu shì huánbǎo wèntí.
    * English: The government rejected the proposal to build a new chemical plant, citing environmental concerns.
    * Analysis: A clear example of a government body rejecting a large-scale proposal for a stated reason.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most critical mistake for English speakers is using **驳回 (bóhuí)** in casual, everyday situations. It is a "false friend" with the general English word "reject."
  *   **Mistake:** Using **驳回 (bóhuí)** for social invitations.
    * **Incorrect:** 他**驳回**了我看电影的邀请。(Tā **bóhuí** le wǒ kàn diànyǐng de yāoqǐng.)
    * **Why it's wrong:** This sounds absurdly formal and serious, as if you submitted a legal motion to go to the movies and your friend, the judge, denied it.
    * **Correct:** 他**拒绝**了我看电影的邀请。(Tā **jùjué** le wǒ kàn diànyǐng de yāoqǐng.)
  *   **Mistake:** Using **驳回 (bóhuí)** for refusing a gift.
    * **Incorrect:** 我**驳回**了他的礼物。(Wǒ **bóhuí** le tā de lǐwù.)
    * **Why it's wrong:** This is too strong and impersonal. It sounds like you are an official entity denying the "application" of a gift.
    * **Correct:** 我**拒绝**了他的礼物。(Wǒ **jùjué** le tā de lǐwù.) or 我**没收**他的礼物。(Wǒ **méi shōu** tā de lǐwù.)
**Rule of Thumb:** If the situation does not involve a formal application, proposal, lawsuit, or an official request to an authority, do not use **驳回 (bóhuí)**. Use [[拒绝]] (jùjué) for general refusals.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[拒绝]] (jùjué) - The most common and general word for "to refuse" or "to reject." Use this for everyday situations like declining invitations, offers, or help. It is the neutral counterpart to **驳回**.
  * [[否决]] (fǒujué) - To veto; to overrule by exercising authority. Very similar to **驳回**, but often implies a specific power to stop something from passing, like a UN Security Council veto.
  * [[反对]] (fǎnduì) - To oppose; to object to. This is about expressing a contrary opinion, not necessarily having the power to stop something. People can **反对** a plan, but only an authority can **驳回** it.
  * [[不同意]] (bù tóngyì) - To disagree. The softest term, simply stating a difference of opinion.
  * [[上诉]] (shàngsù) - To appeal (a legal decision). An appeal is the action that is often met with a **驳回**.
  * [[申请]] (shēnqǐng) - Application; to apply for. An application is the document or request that often gets **驳回**.
  * [[推辞]] (tuīcí) - To decline (politely). This is used for gracefully turning down offers, invitations, or appointments, often out of modesty or etiquette.
  * [[撤销]] (chèxiāo) - To revoke; to cancel. This applies to something that was already approved or in effect (e.g., to revoke a license), whereas **驳回** applies to something that was never approved in the first place.