TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
否
ㄈㄡˇ · fǒu/pǐ
adv — no, whether or not; (pǐ) bad, blocked
字源 FORM — what the parts do
{b,p,f}ITbù → fǒu — the {b,p,f} crossing, tone with it
不 over a mouth (口): the negation 不 doubled with a mouth to say it aloud — the spoken "no." 不 bù also gives the sound, worn across to fǒu. Said another way (pǐ), the bad turn when things stop going through: 是否、否則; 否極泰來.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
嘴（口）上頂著一個「不」——話一出口，就是否。
A "不" set right on the mouth (口) — and the moment it's spoken, it's a no.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
fǒu
(本義)否、是否— no; whether or not常用
→否則、否認— otherwise; to deny常用
pǐ
(引申)否極泰來— the blocked, adverse turn (pǐ)
→否運— a run of bad fortune
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension