Kotowaru is the Japanese verb for ‘to decline’, explained

What does “kotowaru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kotowaru” normally to mean ‘to decline’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “korowaru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “kotowaru”
  • Example #1: how to say “decline” in Japanese
• Kotowaranai: the nai form of “kotowaru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t decline” in Japanese
• Kotowarou: the volitional form of “kotowaru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s decline” in Japanese
• Kotowarimasu: the masu form of “kotowaru”
  • Example #4: how to say “declines” politely in Japanese
• Kotowatta: the ta form of “kotowaru”
  • Example #5: how to say “declined” in Japanese
• Kotowatte: the te form of “kotowaru”
  • Example #6: how to say “please decline” in Japanese
• Kotowareba: the ba form of “kotowaru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if decline” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “kotowaru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kotowaru”.

• kotowaru – 断る (ことわる) : a verb meaning ‘to decline’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to inform beforehand’.

Japanese native speakers use this verb normally to refuse an offer or request. It’s also worth mentioning here that they sometimes use this verb to mean ‘to inform beforehand’ especially in formal situations.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “decline” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kare” to make its possessive case, “kare no”, which means ‘his’ in Japanese.
• onegai – お願い (おねがい) : a noun meaning ‘request’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kare no onegai” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “kotowaru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to refuse an offer or request in Japanese, this verb is always a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kotowaru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “kotowaranai”.

Kotowaranai: the nai form of “kotowaru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kotowaranai”.

• kotowaranai – 断らない (ことわらない) : the nai form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘not to decline’ or ‘not to inform beforehand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kotowaranai” consists of the following two parts:

• kotowara – 断ら (ことわら) : one conjugation of “kotowaru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kotowaranai” is literally the nai form of “kotowaru” and means ‘not to decline’ or ‘not to inform beforehand’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t decline” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “no” to say “her” in Japanese.
• moushide – 申し出 (もうしで) : a noun meaning ‘offer’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “kotowaranai”. When we want to mean ‘not to decline’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Kotowarou: the volitional form of “kotowaru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kotowarou”.

• kotowarou – 断ろう (ことわろう) : the volitional form of “kotowaru”, which expresses volition to decline or inform beforehand.

Grammatically, “kotowarou” consists of the following two parts:

• kotowaro – 断ろ (ことわろ) : one conjugation of “kotowaru”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kotowarou” is literally the volitional form of “kotowaru” and expresses volition to decline or inform beforehand. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s decline” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “moushide” to say “this offer” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kotowarou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s decline” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Kotowarimasu: the masu form of “kotowaru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kotowarimasu”.

• kotowarimasu – 断ります (ことわります) : the masu form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kotowarimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• kotowari – 断り (ことわり) : one conjugation of “kotowaru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kotowarimasu” is literally the masu form of “kotowaru” and means ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “declines” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kareshi – 彼氏 (かれし) : a noun meaning ‘boyfriend’ in Japanese.
• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kotowarimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “decline” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.

Kotowatta: the ta form of “kotowaru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kotowatta”.

• kotowatta – 断った (ことわった) : the ta form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘declined’ or ‘informed beforehand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kotowatta” consists of the following two parts:

• kotowat – 断っ (ことわっ) : one conjugation of “kotowaru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kotowatta” is literally the ta form of “kotowaru” and means ‘declined’ or ‘informed beforehand’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “declined” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “moushide” to say “that offer” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kotowatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kotowaru”, this ta form is the best option.

Kotowatte: the te form of “kotowaru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kotowatte”.

• kotowatte – 断って (ことわって) : the te form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kotowatte” consists of the following two parts:

• kotowat – 断っ (ことわっ) : one conjugation of “kotowaru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kotowatte” is literally the te form of “kotowaru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kotowatte” is very useful when we want to use “kotowaru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please decline” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “kotowatte” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “kotowatte”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “kotowaru” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Kotowareba: the ba form of “kotowaru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “kotowareba”.

• kotowareba – 断れば (ことわれば) : the ba form of “kotowaru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kotowareba” consists of the following two parts:

• kotoware – 断れ (ことわれ) : one conjugation of “kotowaru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kotowareba” is literally the ba form of “kotowaru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kotowareba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if decline” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• naku – 泣く (なく) : a verb meaning ‘to cry’ in Japanese.
• yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the speaker’s idea softly.

This is a typical usage of “kotowareba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kanojo no onegai wo kotowareba”, which means ‘if you decline her request’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to decline’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kotowaru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kotowaru – 断る (ことわる) : a verb meaning ‘to decline’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to inform beforehand’.
• kotowaranai – 断らない (ことわらない) : the nai form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘not to decline’ or ‘not to inform beforehand’ in Japanese.
• kotowarou – 断ろう (ことわろう) : the volitional form of “kotowaru”, which expresses volition to decline or inform beforehand.
• kotowarimasu – 断ります (ことわります) : the masu form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ politely in Japanese.
• kotowatta – 断った (ことわった) : the ta form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘declined’ or ‘informed beforehand’ in Japanese.
• kotowatte – 断って (ことわって) : the te form of “kotowaru”, which means ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ in Japanese. When we want to use “kotowaru” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• kotowareba – 断れば (ことわれば) : the ba form of “kotowaru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to decline’ or ‘to inform beforehand’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.