绝

絕/絶

jué

纟 + 色

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

jué (verb) to cut off; to end

jué (adjective,verb) extinct; to disappear; to vanish

jué (adverb) absolutely; by no means

Etymology

Depicts a knife (刀) cutting a thread (纟). 卩 represents the sound. Simplified form of 絕.

Semantic: 纟 Phonetic: 色

About

绝 is the simplified form of 絕, which originally depicted a knife (刀) cutting a thread (纟), with 卩 giving the sound. This image of severing silk established the core meaning "to cut off" or "break completely". From there, the character came to describe terminating relationships, reaching an absolute end, or exhausting resources, and by extension, anything extreme or unparalleled.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这碗面味道绝了。

Zhè wǎn miàn wèidào juéle.

This bowl of noodles tastes absolutely amazing.

他绝对是个诚实的人。

Tā juéduì shì gè chéngshí de rén.

He is definitely an honest person.

我们绝不能放弃希望。

Wǒmen jué bù néng fàngqì xīwàng.

We must never give up hope.

这种机会绝无仅有。

Zhè zhǒng jīhuì juéwújǐnyǒu.

This kind of opportunity is extremely rare.

山顶的风景堪称一绝。

Shāndǐng de fēngjǐng kān chēng yī jué.

The view from the mountaintop can be called peerless.

双方的关系彻底断绝了。

Shuāngfāng de guānxì chèdǐ duànjué le.

The relations between the two parties have been completely severed.

他做出了一个绝佳的决定。

Tā zuò chūle yīgè juéjiā de juédìng.

He made an excellent decision.

绝望之中，她依然没有断绝与外界的联系。

Juéwàng zhī zhōng, tā yīrán méiyǒu duànjué yǔ wàijiè de liánxì.

In despair, she still did not cut off contact with the outside world.

Related Characters

Component: 纟

Component: 色

Example Words