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不合格 (ふごうかく, fugoukaku) Japanese meaning: failure | Kotomora
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不ふ
合ごう
格かく
に
なっ
た
。
I failed the entrance exam.
I was rejected in the document screening.
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'.
