Explore 絶 in words about interruption and refusal. Learn each reading with a whole word and its context.

The idea

絶 has 12 strokes. Follow the linked diagram. 絶える（たえる） means to cease; 絶つ（たつ） means to cut off; 拒絶（きょぜつ） means refusal.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
絶えるたえるContact with the island has ceased.
絶つたつHe cut off contact with his friend.
拒絶きょぜつShe refused the offer.
絶対ぜったいI will never forget that day.

Examples

  • 島しまとの連絡れんらくが絶たえました。Contact with the island has ceased.
  • 彼かれは友人ゆうじんとの連絡れんらくを絶たちました。He cut off contact with his friend.
  • 彼女かのじょはその提案ていあんを拒絶きょぜつしました。She refused the offer.
  • あの日ひを絶対ぜったいに忘わすれません。I will never forget that day.
  • ここの景色けしきは絶景ぜっけいです。The scenery here is spectacular.
  • 雨あめが絶たえず降ふり続つづきました。The rain continued without letting up.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

絶える is intransitive: something ceases. 絶つ is transitive: someone cuts something off. 絶対（ぜったい） often means absolutely, not simply discontinued.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 絶える in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    たえる

    絶える is read たえる; the connection ceases on its own.

  2. Write the reading of 拒絶 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    きょぜつ

    拒絶 is read きょぜつ and means refusal.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿対（ぜったい）［絶／続］.

    Show answer or example answer

    絶

    絶 completes 絶対（ぜったい）; 絶対に with a negative means absolutely not.

Use it today

Write 絶 using the diagram, cover the table and read the words aloud. Make a sentence with one.