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绝情 (jué qíng) — (stative verb) heartless, ruthless (especially by severing emotional ties)

Definition

Means 'heartless / ruthless,' typically about cutting off an emotional bond (ending a relationship, ignoring a loved one's pleas). Stronger and more emotional than a simple 无情; emphasizes deliberate coldness toward someone close.

adjective
(stative verb) heartlessruthless (especially by severing emotional ties)

Examples

  • 绝情，。
    Tā tí chū fēn shǒu de shí hou fēi cháng jué qíng, lián yí jù jiě shì dōu méi yǒu.
    He was absolutely heartless when he broke up with her — didn't even offer a single explanation.
  • 绝情。
    Zhè zhǒng jué qíng de xíng wéi ràng tā chè dǐ xīn suì le.
    This kind of ruthless behavior completely broke her heart.
  • ，绝情。
    Bié kàn tā shuō dé qīng sōng, qí shí tā bìng bú shì yí gè jué qíng de rén.
    Don't let his casual tone fool you — he's not really a heartless person.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

绝juésever
情qíngfeeling

“绝” means to sever and “情” means feeling; severing feelings gives a heartless quality.

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 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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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