Chinese word

断绝

Pronunciation

Pinyinduàn jué

Meaning

  • verbbreak contact

Example

他断绝了和她的联系。tā duàn jué le hé tā de lián xì

He broke contact with her.

Illustration for 断绝 (break contact)

More examples

他们因为误会断绝了关系。tā men yīn wèi wù huì duàn jué le guān xì

They broke off relations because of a misunderstanding.

Core concept

A complete cut separates two sides and leaves no path for contact to continue.

Common phrases

  • 断绝联系duàn jué lián xì

    break contact

  • 断绝关系duàn jué guān xì

    break off relations

  • 断绝来往duàn jué lái wǎng

    cut off contact

Similar words

断联duàn lián: Ends contact with someone by stopping communication and cutting off contact methods.
断交duàn jiāo: Formally breaks off relations with a country or person.
中断zhōng duàn: Interrupts an activity or communication and stops it for a time before completion.

Definition in Chinese

彻底停止与某人或某事的来往或联系，不再保持任何交流或往来。chè dǐ tíng zhǐ yǔ mǒu rén huò mǒu shì de lái wǎng huò lián xì bú zài bǎo chí rèn hé jiāo liú huò wǎng lái

Word origin

断 (duàn, "cut off") + 绝 (jué, "end completely") form a compound meaning that a connection is cut off with nothing left to continue.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, this verb marks a serious and lasting rupture, so it is too strong for a short pause in messages or a temporary disagreement.

Other meanings

  • stop being friendsverb
  • cut diplomatic tiesverb
  • break the connectionverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word