Usage patterns 〈 試し 験けん 〉 に 不ふ 合ごう 格かく になる to fail an exam or screening
He failed the entrance exam.
〈 物もの 〉 が 不ふ 合ごう 格かく になる an item fails an inspection
This part failed the inspection.
〈 人ひと 〉 を 不ふ 合ごう 格かく にする to fail or reject someone (in an exam or selection)
The interviewer rejected him.
不ふ 合ごう 格かく の 通つう 知ち a notice of failure/rejection
A notice of rejection arrived.
Related words 落第 specifically means failing a grade or course in school, while 不合格 is the broader term used for exams, screenings, and inspections of any kind.
失敗 is a general word for any kind of failure or mistake, whereas 不合格 is specifically about not passing an exam, test, or inspection.
不合格 means failing to meet a standard (e.g. an exam), while 失格 specifically implies being stripped of eligibility, often for breaking a rule.
Opposites 合格 means passing or succeeding (an exam, inspection, etc.), the direct opposite of 不合格 .
不合格 means failing an exam or inspection, the direct opposite of パス when it means successfully passing.
不合格 means failing a screening or exam, the opposite of 通過 which here means successfully clearing that stage.
Etymology Compound of 不 (fu, 'not') + 合格 (gōkaku, 'passing, success'). The kanji 合 means 'fit, suit' and 格 means 'standard, status', together meaning 'meeting the standard'. The prefix 不 negates it, giving 'not meeting the standard'.
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