Meaning

Primary

Failing A Test

Alternatives

Failing An Exam, Rejection

Word Type

noun

Explanation

You already learned 合格する (to pass a test). Well, slap 不 (not) in front of 合格 and you get failing a test.

One thing to note: unlike 合格, 不合格 can't combine with する to be made into a verb. It's typically just used as a noun to describe the state of having failed or been rejected. So if you pass a test, feel free to shout something like 合格した! But if you fail, it's better to just mumble 不合格だった...

Reading

ふごうかく
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

If you know the reading for 合格, all you have to do is add 不 to it! You've learned all these readings, yay!

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 不合格になる

    to fail a test, to be rejected

    不合格にする

    to fail someone on a test, to reject someone

    不合格になってしまう

    to end up failing a test, to end up getting rejected

Context Sentences

カンニングしたのがバレて不合格になってしまった。

They found out that I cheated and I ended up failing the test.

みんな合格したのに、私だけ不合格でした。

Everyone else passed, but I was the only one who failed.

もしよければ、不合格になった理由を教えてもらえませんか?

If you don't mind, could you tell me the reason I wasn't accepted?

本命の公立大学は不合格だったが、すべり止めで受けた私立大学に合格しました。

I didn't get accepted into my first-choice public university, but I got into a private university that I applied to as a safety.

Kanji Composition