Onyomi: ゼツ · Kunyomi: た.える, た.つ, た.やす · Meanings: abstain, be beyond, cut off, discontinue, interrupt, peerless, sever, suppress, unparalleled, without match
Kanji for abstain, be beyond, cut off, discontinue, interrupt
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絶 combines the thread radical 糸 on the left with the component 色 on the right. In ancient writing, 糸 represented a strand of thread, something long, continuous, and delicate. 色 originally had the sense of a distinct appearance or a noticeable change. When these two parts came together, the character expressed the idea of a thread being altered or suddenly changed — especially by being cut or broken. Over time, this evolved into the meaning of “to cut off,” “to sever,” or “to come to an end,” like a thread that can no longer continue. The kanji carries the feeling of a connection ending abruptly.
絶 shows a thread (糸) being affected or changed (色), symbolizing something that is cut off, broken, or comes to an end.
Imagine holding a long, thin thread (糸) that suddenly changes color (色) right before it snaps. The moment you see that change, you know the thread is about to break. That sharp “break” or “cut off” feeling is exactly the meaning of 絶 — something that stops suddenly, like a connection being severed.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 絶 | ぜつ | starting field which contains the November and/or December 20-point card | Noun |
| 絶滅 | ぜつめつ | extinction, extermination | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb |
| 絶対 | ぜったい | absolutely, definitely, unconditionally | common JLPT-N3 Adverb (fukushi) |
| 絶版 | ぜっぱん | out of print | JLPT-N1 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 絶えず | たえず | constantly, always, continually, steadily | common JLPT-N2 Adverb (fukushi) |
| 絶望 | ぜつぼう | despair, hopelessness | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 絶える | たえる | to die out, to peter out, to become extinct | common JLPT-N1 Ichidan verb, Intransitive verb |
| 絶頂 | ぜっちょう | top (of a mountain), summit | common Noun |
| 絶好 | ぜっこう | best, ideal, perfect | common Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 絶対的 | ぜったいてき | absolute | common Na-adjective (keiyodoshi) |