U+5426 "否" CJK Unified Ideograph-# Unicode Character
U+5426 "否" CJK Unified Ideograph-# is a Chinese character that primarily means "no" or "to negate," and functions as a fundamental negation marker in the Chinese writing system. It is pronounced "fǒu" in Mandarin and is commonly used in formal or written contexts to express denial, refusal, or the opposite of an affirmative assertion. This ideograph traces its origins to ancient Chinese script, where it was composed of a mouth radical and a component suggesting concealment, symbolizing the act of declining or saying no. Beyond its basic meaning, "否" also appears in compound words such as "否定" meaning "to deny" or "negate," and "否则" meaning "otherwise" or "or else," making it a versatile and essential element in classical and modern Chinese language.