Date； 2006.10.10(Tue)
Refuse, reject, decline
I don’t like to hear the word “no.” I suppose most the people feel the same way. It’s painful to be “refused” or “rejected.” Those two are similar words. Let’s add one more, “decline,” and talk about this three this time.
When you don’t want to do, give, accept or allow something, then you “refused” it. Here are some examples. Some farmers living near Narita Airport didn’t want to sell their land so the airport could be enlarged. They refuse to sell it. He was offered a promotion but, he refused it. He didn’t want to add responsibility.
“Decline” has the same meaning as “refuse,” but it a slightly different feeling. It’s a more courteous, more polite way to say no. I had to decline the invitation to the party; I was too busy. If I hadn’t had other plans, I would have gone. Decline is a softer way to say “no” than refuse. Up to now the politician Shinzo Abe has declined to say whether he would visit Yasukuni Shrine. It hasn’t been a strong statement; he just doesn’t want to say anything about it.
Take a look at the examples in the previous paragraph. You might say that the man declined the promotion, but declined doesn’t fit those farmers in Narita. They were strongly opposed to the plan.
One of the meanings to “reject” is to refuse something because it doesn’t meet your expectations or standards. I applied to the master course after I graduated from high school. Some accept me, but others reject me, they reject my application. My grades weren’t good enough for them. Here’s another example. Many countries want North Korea to stop testing missiles. North Korea has rejected their proposal so far. You can refuse to do something; North Korea has refused to stop launching missiles. But you can’t reject to do something; reject is not used in this sense. Things like proposals, offers, plans and ideas are rejected. Actions are refused but no rejected.
I’d like to invite you to read my articles every time you can, even further I invite you to take lessons with me. I hope you won’t refuse my invitation but I’ll understand if you want to decline, but please don’t reject it completely. Bye!
When you don’t want to do, give, accept or allow something, then you “refused” it. Here are some examples. Some farmers living near Narita Airport didn’t want to sell their land so the airport could be enlarged. They refuse to sell it. He was offered a promotion but, he refused it. He didn’t want to add responsibility.
“Decline” has the same meaning as “refuse,” but it a slightly different feeling. It’s a more courteous, more polite way to say no. I had to decline the invitation to the party; I was too busy. If I hadn’t had other plans, I would have gone. Decline is a softer way to say “no” than refuse. Up to now the politician Shinzo Abe has declined to say whether he would visit Yasukuni Shrine. It hasn’t been a strong statement; he just doesn’t want to say anything about it.
Take a look at the examples in the previous paragraph. You might say that the man declined the promotion, but declined doesn’t fit those farmers in Narita. They were strongly opposed to the plan.
One of the meanings to “reject” is to refuse something because it doesn’t meet your expectations or standards. I applied to the master course after I graduated from high school. Some accept me, but others reject me, they reject my application. My grades weren’t good enough for them. Here’s another example. Many countries want North Korea to stop testing missiles. North Korea has rejected their proposal so far. You can refuse to do something; North Korea has refused to stop launching missiles. But you can’t reject to do something; reject is not used in this sense. Things like proposals, offers, plans and ideas are rejected. Actions are refused but no rejected.
I’d like to invite you to read my articles every time you can, even further I invite you to take lessons with me. I hope you won’t refuse my invitation but I’ll understand if you want to decline, but please don’t reject it completely. Bye!