絶体絶命(ぜったいぜつめい)

ぜったいぜつめい
noun, na-adjective
desperate situation; dire straits
1. desperate situation; dire straits; critical moment with no way out
A situation where one is cornered with no escape, facing imminent danger or failure.
絶体絶命(ぜったいぜつめい)のピンチから逃(のが)れた。
I escaped from a desperate situation.
締(し)め切(き)りが明日(あした)で絶体絶命(ぜったいぜつめい)だ。
The deadline is tomorrow—I'm in dire straits.
絶体絶命(ぜったいぜつめい)の状況(じょうきょう)でも諦(あきら)めなかった。
I didn't give up even in the most desperate situation.

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)):
絶体(ぜったい) and 絶命(ぜつめい) both mean "desperate" or "critical." The doubling intensifies the meaning to express an extreme situation with no way out.

ETYMOLOGY:
Originally from Chinese astrology, where 絶体(ぜったい) and 絶命(ぜつめい) were two of the twelve unlucky star positions (十二殺(じゅうにさつ)).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 絶体絶命(ぜったいぜつめい)のピンチ: a desperate crisis
  • 絶体絶命(ぜったいぜつめい)の状況(じょうきょう)/事態(じたい): a dire situation
  • 絶体絶命(ぜったいぜつめい)に追(お)い込(こ)まれる: to be driven into a corner

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 窮地(きゅうち): predicament, tight spot
  • 危機一髪(ききいっぱつ): hair's breadth, close call

Related Words

Related: 危機一髪(ききいっぱつ) (close call)
general
Added 2026.1.17 20:06 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
06000/06339_zettaizetsumei