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March 24, 2026
绝(絕)jué(jue2)
The character 绝 (jué) primarily means 'to cut short' or 'to sever.' It can also imply extinction or disappearance in various contexts, such as species becoming extinct or feelings vanishing. Additionally, it conveys a sense of absoluteness or certainty, often used in expressions to emphasize a strong negation.
Strokes9Radical纟Frequency#1894DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of extinction (绝种) is significant in discussions about environmental protection and conservation, reflecting a growing awareness of ecological issues.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person cutting a rope (the radical for 'cut' is present) to symbolize severing something completely. Picture them saying 'just cut it!' to emphasize the finality of the action, which helps you remember the pronunciation 'jué' sounds like 'jew with a cut.'
Meanings of 绝
jué(jue2)
1to cut short
2extinct
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 绝
绝Simplified
絕Traditional
9Strokes
纟Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1894Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 绝
Podcast: 绝
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AI Study Notes for 绝
Quick Contrast
绝 (jué) vs 完 (wán) — choose 绝 when emphasizing a definitive end or severance, while 完 indicates a completed state or finish without the connotation of cutting off.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person cutting a rope (the radical for 'cut' is present) to symbolize severing something completely. Picture them saying 'just cut it!' to emphasize the finality of the action, which helps you remember the pronunciation 'jué' sounds like 'jew with a cut.'
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 绝 with similar-sounding characters, so be careful with pronunciation. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the absolute meanings often appear in more serious discussions. Common collocations include 绝对 (jué duì, absolutely) and 绝望 (jué wàng, despair).
HSK Study Tips
While 绝 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other advanced words that convey strong emotions or states. Students should focus on its usage in phrases and synonyms as they progress to higher levels.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of extinction (绝种) is significant in discussions about environmental protection and conservation, reflecting a growing awareness of ecological issues.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 绝 with 绝对 (jué duì) and forget to use it in the right context. For instance, saying '我绝对不喜欢' (I absolutely don’t like) is correct, but saying '我绝不喜欢' (I do not like at all) uses a different nuance that is less emphatic.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 绝
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Grammar Patterns of 绝
绝 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese culture, the concept of extinction (绝种) is significant in discussions about environmental protection and conservation, reflecting a growing awareness of ecological issues.
📜Proverb
有句成语说“绝处逢生”，意思是在绝境中找到生路，反映了中国文化中对希望和生存的重视。
Word Family of 绝
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
Compound Meaning
What does 绝对 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 绝
绝 (jué) and 完 (wán) can both imply completeness, but they are used in different contexts. 绝 often conveys a sense of extinction or abrupt cessation, while 完 typically means 'to finish' or 'to complete'. Understanding these nuances can help you choose the right word in conversation.
Yes, 绝 (jué) is used in various contexts, particularly in formal or literary Chinese. While it might not be as commonly used in everyday conversation as some simpler characters, its meanings and expressions are important to know, especially for advanced learners. Familiarizing yourself with its usage can enhance your comprehension of more complex texts.
绝 (jué) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'to cut short', 'extinct', 'to disappear', and 'to vanish'. It can also be used to express absoluteness, such as in '绝对' (juéduì), meaning 'absolute'. Understanding its various contexts can help learners use it accurately in conversation.
To use 绝 (jué) in a sentence, you can say something like '这条河已经绝迹了' (Zhè tiáo hé yǐjīng juéjì le), which means 'This river has already disappeared.' It can also be used in expressions like '绝对不行' (juéduì bùxíng), meaning 'absolutely not allowed'. Learning these phrases can enhance your fluency.
You can use it in phrases like '绝对可以' (jué duì kě yǐ), meaning 'absolutely can.'
It can be used in both contexts, but it often carries a more serious tone.
Common phrases include 绝望 (despair) and 绝对 (absolutely).
