1.
whether or not, yes or no
Used to present an alternative or question about whether something is so or not. Often appears in compound expressions.
賛否が分かれた。
Opinions were divided between for and against.
参加するか否かは本人の自由だ。
Whether or not to participate is up to the individual.
この提案を受け入れるか否かは、今後の会議で決定される。
Whether or not to accept this proposal will be decided at a future meeting.
2.
nay, rather, or better yet
Used to correct or upgrade a previous statement, similar to 'nay' or 'or rather' in English. Literary.
数十人、否、数百人が集まった。
Dozens — nay, hundreds — gathered.
難しい、否、ほぼ不可能だと言えるだろう。
It could be called difficult — or rather, nearly impossible.
それは優れた作品だった。否、傑作と呼ぶべきものだった。
It was an excellent work. Nay, it was what should be called a masterpiece.
USAGE:
Sense 1 commonly appears in the pattern ～か否か (whether or not ~), which is formal and used in written Japanese. In compounds like 賛否 (pros and cons) and 安否 (safety/well-being), 否 is read with its on'yomi. Sense 2 is literary and rhetorical, used to correct or strengthen a previous statement.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～か否か: whether or not ~
- 否、～: nay, rather ~
COMMON COMPOUNDS:
- 賛否: pros and cons, for and against
- 安否: safety, well-being
- 可否: propriety, approval or rejection
- 否定: denial, negation
SIMILAR WORDS:
否 is literary. The casual equivalent for "no" is いいえ} or {いや}. The related entry {否 (no, reluctance) has a different nuance, expressing dislike or refusal.