絶
絶·cut off, absolute, die out
- On-yomi
- ゼツ
- Kun-yomi
- たえるたやす
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 絶対 | ぜったい | absolutely, definitely |
| 絶える | たえる | to die out, to cease |
| 絶滅 | ぜつめつ | extinction |
| 気絶 | きぜつ | fainting, losing consciousness |
Example sentences
その話は絶対に秘密です。
そのはなしはぜったいにひみつです。
That story is absolutely secret.
この動物は絶滅しそうです。
このどうぶつはぜつめつしそうです。
This animal looks likely to go extinct.
店の前は人が絶えません。
みせのまえはひとがたえません。
There is a constant stream of people in front of the shop.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 絶対 as *ぜつたい instead of ぜったい
- Forgetting that 絶対 usually needs に before a verb: 絶対に行きます
Memory aid
Picture it
The thread radical 糸 with a blade shape beside it — the thread is cut, and nothing gets through.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 絶対ぜったいabsolute; absolutely, definitely
- 絶滅ぜつめつextinction
- 絶対にぜったいにabsolutely
- 絶交ぜっこうbreaking off a friendship
- 絶景ぜっけいsuperb view, spectacular scenery
- 気絶するきぜつするto faint, to lose consciousness
- 絶望するぜつぼうするto despair, to lose all hope
- 絶えずたえずconstantly, continually, without interruption
- 絶望ぜつぼうdespair
- 絶賛ぜっさんhigh praise
- 根絶こんぜつeradication, rooting out
- 廃絶はいぜつabolition (of weapons)
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 絶 mean?