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絕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
絕juéto cut, to sever; to break off, to terminatezg, 12 strokes, radical 糹
jué(jue2) T2
  1. 1to cut, to sever; to break off, to terminate
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March 24, 2026

絕jué(jue2)

The character 絕 (jué) means to cut or to sever, often used in contexts of breaking off relationships or terminating something. It can denote a complete end, suggesting a strong finality, such as in the phrase 絕交 (juéjiāo), meaning to sever ties with someone.

Strokes12Radical糹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of severing ties can be quite significant, often seen in literature and drama where characters may choose to end relationships dramatically. This reflects the value placed on loyalty and the pain of separation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of scissors cutting through a rope, symbolizing the act of severing. The character 絕 has the radical 糸 (mì), which relates to threads and connections, reminding you that cutting means breaking those connections. The pronunciation 'jué' sounds like 'jued', which you can remember as 'jewelled scissors' cutting through something.

Meanings of 絕

jué(jue2)
1to cut, to sever; to break off, to terminate
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 絕 means.

About 絕

絕Simplified
12Strokes
糹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 絕

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Podcast: 絕

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AI Study Notes for 絕

Quick Contrast

斷 (duàn) vs 絕 (jué): use 絕 for a stronger sense of finality or total severance, while 斷 implies a break but may allow for the possibility of reconnection.

Usage Notes

Be cautious about using 絕 in overly formal contexts as it might come off as too strong or dramatic. Common mistakes include confusing it with 绝 (jué), which is the simplified form, and using it inappropriately in casual conversation. Example collocations include 絕望 (juéwàng, despair) and 絕對 (juéduì, absolute).

HSK Study Tips

While 絕 is not part of the HSK list, it connects well with other HSK words related to endings or extremes, like 結束 (jiéshù, to end) or 完全 (wánquán, completely). Focus on practicing its use in phrases where finality is expressed.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 絕 with its simplified form 绝 and might mistakenly use it in informal contexts where a softer term would be more appropriate. For example, saying 絕交 in a casual setting could seem overly harsh, while using something like 分手 (fēnshǒu) for break-up is more common.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 絕

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Etymology of 絕

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 色 represents the sound. Simplified form of 絕.

Memory Hint

To cut 刀 thread 糹; 巴 provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 絕?

Decomposition of 絕

IDS Structure⿰糹⿱刀巴
絕Full Character
=
糹si1
left
刀Dao1
top
巴Ba1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 絕?

How to say to cut, to sever; to break off, to terminate in Chinese

“to cut, to sever; to break off, to terminate” in Chinese is絕jué

The character 絕 (jué) means to cut or to sever, often used in contexts of breaking off relationships or terminating something. It can denote a complete end, suggesting a strong finality, such as in the phrase 絕交 (juéjiāo), meaning to sever ties with someone.

When to use 絕

Be cautious about using 絕 in overly formal contexts as it might come off as too strong or dramatic. Common mistakes include confusing it with 绝 (jué), which is the simplified form, and using it inappropriately in casual conversation. Example collocations include 絕望 (juéwàng, despair) and 絕對 (juéduì, absolute).

絕 or something close to it

斷 (duàn) vs 絕 (jué): use 絕 for a stronger sense of finality or total severance, while 斷 implies a break but may allow for the possibility of reconnection.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 絕 with its simplified form 绝 and might mistakenly use it in informal contexts where a softer term would be more appropriate. For example, saying 絕交 in a casual setting could seem overly harsh, while using something like 分手 (fēnshǒu) for break-up is more common.

Write 絕

絕

Practice writing 絕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 絕

Words Containing This Character20
绝对juéduìabsolute絕對
拒绝jùjuéto refuse拒絕
绝不in no way絕不
绝juéextinct絕
绝望juéwàngto despair絕望
绝大多数juédàduōshùabsolute majority絕大多數
绝大部分overwhelming majority絕大部分
杜绝dùjuéto put an end to杜絕
灭绝mièjuéto extinguish滅絕
绝妙exquisite絕妙
绝非absolutely not絕非
断绝duànjuéto sever斷絕
不绝unending不絕
绝地danger spot絕地
绝技juéjìconsummate skill絕技
绝招juézhāounique skill絕招
绝世unique絕世
绝境desperate straits絕境
滔滔不绝tāotāobùjuétalking non-stop滔滔不絕
绝佳exceptionally good絕佳
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 絕

What does 绝对 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 絕

You can use 絕 in phrases like 絕交 (juéjiāo) meaning to cut off friendships.

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