絶 頂(ぜっちょう)

ぜっちょう

noun

peak, summit, climax, zenith

1. peak, summit, top of a mountain

The highest point of a mountain or elevation. A literary alternative to 山頂(さんちょう) or 頂上(ちょうじょう).

山(やま)の絶頂(ぜっちょう)に立(た)つ。

Stand on the summit of the mountain.

登山家(とざんか)たちは吹雪(ふぶき)の中(なか)、絶頂(ぜっちょう)を目指(めざ)した。

The mountaineers pressed toward the summit in the blizzard.

険(けわ)しい岩場(いわば)を越(こ)えて、ついに絶頂(ぜっちょう)にたどり着(つ)いた。

After crossing steep rocky terrain, they finally reached the summit.

2. peak, zenith, climax, height

The highest point or most intense moment of something — power, popularity, emotion, or any state. More commonly used than the literal mountain sense.

人気(にんき)絶頂(ぜっちょう)のアイドルだ。

An idol at the height of popularity.

幸福(こうふく)の絶頂(ぜっちょう)にいる気分(きぶん)だった。

I felt like I was at the peak of happiness.

ローマ帝国(ていこく)は2世紀(せいき)に権力(けんりょく)の絶頂(ぜっちょう)を迎(むか)えた。

The Roman Empire reached the zenith of its power in the 2nd century.

Usage

The figurative sense (peak, zenith) is more common than the literal mountain summit sense. Often used in the pattern ○○の絶頂(ぜっちょう) or ○○絶頂(ぜっちょう) (at the peak of ○○).

Similar words

頂上(ちょうじょう): summit, top (more common for mountains)
山頂(さんちょう): mountain summit (specific to mountains)
最高潮(さいこうちょう): climax, high point (of excitement or events)
全盛期(ぜんせいき): heyday, golden age (focuses on the period)

Common collocations

人気(にんき)絶頂(ぜっちょう): at the height of popularity
幸福(こうふく)の絶頂(ぜっちょう): peak of happiness
権力(けんりょく)の絶頂(ぜっちょう): zenith of power
絶頂期(ぜっちょうき): peak period

Related Words

Synonym: 頂上(ちょうじょう) (summit (literal))

Compare: 山頂(さんちょう) (mountain summit)

Compare: 最高潮(さいこうちょう) (climax, high point)

Compare: 全盛期(ぜんせいき) (heyday, golden age)

Compare: 盛(さか)り (peak)

Compare: ピーク (peak, highest point)

Compare: 真(ま)っ盛(さか)り (at its peak)

general

Added 2026.2.27 14:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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