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绝对 (jué duì) — absolute (adjective); absolutely (adverb)

Definition

绝对 works as both adjective ('absolute') and adverb ('absolutely') to strengthen a statement. Unlike 根本 or 万万, it is NOT restricted to negatives — it freely emphasizes positives (e.g., 我绝对相信你).

absolute (adjective)absolutely (adverb)

Examples

  • 绝对。
    Zhè shì jué duì de shì shí.
    This is an absolute fact.
  • 绝对。
    Wǒ jué duì xiāng xìn nǐ.
    I absolutely believe you.
  • 绝对。
    Tā jué duì bú huì fàng qì.
    He will absolutely not give up.

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juéutterly
对duìcorrect

绝 (utterly) and 对 (correct) combine to mean unconditional.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →
Appears in
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