About
The character "绝" originated from an idea related to silk, as seen in its traditional form "絕", which combines the silk radical (糸) with the component for a knife or blade (刀, in the form of 刂), visually conveying the act of severing or cutting threads. This foundational concept of cutting off gave rise to its core meanings of "to sever", "to cut off", or "to terminate". Over time, the application of this meaning broadened significantly from the physical act of cutting silk to more abstract and figurative uses, such as describing the cessation of a lineage, the exhaustion of a supply, or the ultimate degree of a quality, as in "绝妙" (extremely clever). The character's structural logic, emphasizing a decisive break, has remained consistent even as its usage expanded into these various domains of cessation, extremity, and uniqueness.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这碗面味道绝了。
他绝对是个诚实的人。
我们绝不能放弃希望。
这种机会绝无仅有。
山顶的风景堪称一绝。
双方的关系彻底断绝了。
他做出了一个绝佳的决定。
绝望之中，她依然没有断绝与外界的联系。