Japanese word

絶対

Pronunciation

Romajizettai

Meaning

  • adverbdefinitely

Example

私は絶対に行きます。watashi wa zet tai ni i ki ma su

I will definitely go.

Illustration for 絶対 (definitely)

More examples

明日は絶対に早起きします。asu wa zet tai ni haya o ki shi ma su

I will definitely get up early tomorrow.

Core concept

Marks a statement as completely certain, either affirming that something will happen or ruling it out.

Common phrases

  • 絶対に必要zet tai ni hitsu yō

    absolutely necessary

  • 絶対に忘れないzet tai ni wasu re na i

    never forget

  • 絶対に行くzet tai ni i ku

    definitely go

Similar words

必ずkanarazu: Indicates that an event will happen in every relevant case or that a rule has no exceptions.
きっとkitto: Expresses a strong expectation that something is true or will happen.
決してkesshite: Emphasizes that something does not happen or is not true, usually with a negative expression.

Definition in Japanese

疑いなく確実だと強く断定する意を表す。否定表現とともに用いて、決してそうしない意を表す。utaga i na ku kaku jitsu da to tsuyo ku dan tei su ru i o arawa su hi tei hyō gen to to mo ni mochi i te kes shi te sō shi na i i o arawa su

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 絶対 (zettai, "absolute") combines 絶 (zetsu, "cut off") and 対 (tai, "opposition"), expressing something beyond comparison; its adverbial use conveys certainty or exclusion.

Usage tips

  • Japanese speakers also use 絶対 (zettai) before adjectives in casual speech, as in 絶対かわいい (zettai kawaii), meaning that something is definitely cute.

Other meanings

  • under no circumstancesadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word