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 2026.6.30 21:21

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