Zettai Zetsumei (絶体絶命 - Certain Death)

Zettai Zetsumei

Several days ago, I was being fallen into a situation called 'zettai zetsumei' (絶体絶命) in Japanese.

'Ze/zetsu' (絶) means "to end," 'tai' (体) means "body," 'mei' (命) means "life."

Each idiom, 'zettia' (絶体) and 'zetsumei' (絶命) means "one's body (is about to) ends" and "one's life (is about to) ends," respectively.

In addition, the combination 'zettai zetsumei' means a situation that you are driven to the last extremity and cannot do anything.

People sometimes write 絶対絶命 (zettai zetsumei) using 絶対 (zettai - meaning "definite/absolute") instead of 絶体 (zettai), but note that this is incorrect.

絶体絶命

私は数日前、「絶体絶命」と呼ばれる状況に陥っていました。

「絶」は "to end"、「体」は "body"、「命」は "life" を意味します。

「絶体」は体が絶えること、もしくは今にもそうなりそうな状態を、「絶命」は命が絶えること、もしくは今にもそうなりそうな状態を表す言葉です。

そして「絶体絶命」は、危険・困難な状況に追い詰められ、どうすることもできないさまを表します。

"Definite" や "absolute" を意味する「絶対」を使って「絶対絶命」と書かれることもありますが、これは誤りです。

• Zettai Zetsumei (絶体絶命 - Certain Death)
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Several days ago, I was being fallen into a situation called 'zettai zetsumei' (絶体絶命) in Japanese.
• Several days ago, I was being fallen fell into a situation called 'zettai zetsumei' (絶体絶命) in Japanese.

This is the first time I've heard of 絶体絶命. It sounds like a stressful situation! Thanks for sharing :)