refuse

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 拒 has 8 strokes, the on-reading きょ, and the kun-reading こばむ. 拒む (こばむ) and 拒否 (きょひ) express not accepting something.
• Basic usage: 拒む can mean refusing a request or blocking a path; 拒否 describes rejection by a person or a machine.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• What is refused and figuratively blocking a path
  • 許可証のない者の入場を拒む means refusing entry to people without permits. 行く手を拒むように compares piled-up snow to something blocking the climbers' path.
  • 写真の公開を拒否した means refused publication of a photograph. 正しくない番号の入力を拒否する means that a machine does not accept entry of an incorrect number.