绝 (jué) - To cut off & to sever

绝Tone 2

jué ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

绝 · jué

To cut off;

to sever;

to exhaust;

to disappear;

to end;

extremely;

absolutely;

unique;

peerless.

To cut offto severto exhaust

Usage highlights

AbsolutelyCut offDespairUnique skillPeerlessExtinction

Synonyms

  • 断— to break; to cut off
  • 尽— to exhaust; to use up
  • 极— extreme; utmost

Antonyms

  • 续— to continue; to extend
  • 生— to live; to be born
  • 通— to connect; to communicate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The road was cut off (绝路).
  • He was absolutely furious (绝顶愤怒).
  • This is a unique skill (绝技).
  • They broke off diplomatic relations (断绝外交关系).

Collocations

  • Absolutely(绝对)
  • Cut off(断绝)
  • Despair(绝望)
  • Unique skill(绝技)
  • Peerless(绝伦)
  • Extinction(灭绝)

Idioms

  • Cutting off all means of retreat(绝处逢生)
  • Unprecedented and unrepeatable(空前绝后)
  • Cutting off one's means of livelihood(赶尽杀绝)
  • Beautiful beyond compare(绝代佳人)
  • Cut off from the world(与世隔绝)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, '绝' often represents the extreme or ultimate state of something.
  • The character appears in many idioms describing exceptional beauty, skill, or dangerous situations.
  • In martial arts contexts, '绝技' refers to unique, peerless techniques passed down through lineages.

FAQ