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绝技 (jué jì) — consummate skill; extraordinary feat

Definition

绝技 refers to a single, show-stopping feat of skill — like a master performer's signature stunt. 技巧 is the general technique or knack used to do something well.

noun
consummate skillextraordinary feat
Measure word · 项
Easily confused

Examples

  • 绝技，。
    Tā yǒu yí xiàng jué jì, dà jiā dōu pèi fú tā.
    He has an extraordinary skill that everyone admires.
  • 绝技。
    Zhè wèi lǎo yì rén zhǎn shì le tā de jué jì.
    This veteran performer demonstrated his consummate skill.
  • ，绝技。
    Tā liàn le shí nián, zhōng yú zhǎng wò le zhè xiàng jué jì.
    He practiced for ten years and finally mastered this extraordinary feat.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

绝juésupreme
技jìskill

绝 conveys supreme or unmatched, and 技 names skill, together meaning a consummate feat.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī技jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

Open 技 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Success & Failure

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