蹴る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 蹴る is read as ける and is a transitive verb meaning either to kick with the foot or figuratively to reject an offer or request decisively.
• Basic usage: The literal action appears in ボールを蹴る, while figurative rejection appears in 申し出を蹴る, with the object marked by を.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Two types of object
  • With a ball or object it means kick; with an offer, request, or terms it means refuse to accept them.
• Difference from 断る
  • 断る is a neutral verb for declining a request or offer, while 蹴る has a more colloquial sense of firmly or bluntly rejecting it.