HSK 7, d, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1894, Very Hard
绝
jué
extinct
HSK 7, d, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1894, Very Hard
绝
jué
to disappear
HSK 7, d, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1894, Very Hard
绝
jué
to vanish
HSK 7, d, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1894, Very Hard
绝
jué
absolutely
HSK 7, d, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1894, Very Hard
绝
jué
by no means
HSK 7, d, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1894, Very Hard
绝
jué
to cut, to sever; to break off, to terminate
HSK 7, d, 9 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1894, Very Hard
jué(jue2) T2
1to cut short
2extinct
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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#1894DifficultyVery Hard
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.
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.
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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Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 色 represents the sound. Simplified form of 絕.
1The meaning half纟 carries the sense.
2The sound half色 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaythread
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 绝? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 绝?
Decomposition of 绝
IDS Structure⿰纟色
绝Full Character
=
纟si1
left
色se4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 绝?
How to say to cut short in Chinese
“to cut short” in Chinese is绝jué
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.
When to use 绝
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).
绝 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 绝
绝
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Practice writing 绝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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 7 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.
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).
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