TongTong
Sign in

断绝 (duàn jué) — to sever, to break off (relations, ties, connections)

Definition

断绝 means to completely and permanently sever a relationship, tie, or connection — stronger and more decisive than 中断 (to interrupt/suspend temporarily). Unlike 割 (cut with a blade), 断绝 is abstract and rarely used for physical cutting.

verb
to severto break off (relations, ties, connections)

Examples

  • 断绝。
    Tā men jué dìng duàn jué yí qiè lián xì.
    They decided to sever all contact.
  • 断绝。
    Zhè cì shì gù duàn jué le tā men de yǒu yì.
    This accident broke off their friendship.
  • 断绝。
    Gōng sī duàn jué le yǔ nà jiā gōng yìng shāng de hé zuò.
    The company broke off cooperation with that supplier.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

断duànbreak
绝juécut off

断 and 绝 both mean to cut off, so the word expresses severing a tie.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 絕; 绝 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 絕, 刀 (knife) and 幺 (silk) show a knife cutting silk threads. The simplified 绝 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original picture.

Open 绝 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.