Japanese meaning of 絶体絶命
Reading:
ぜったいぜつめい (zettai zetsumei)
English Translation:
A desperate situation; brink of disaster
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
A desperate, inescapable situation with no apparent way out.
逃れられない絶望的な状況。
Cultural Context:
Frequently used in Japanese storytelling, news, and sports commentary to heighten drama.
物語、ニュース、スポーツ実況で緊迫感を高めるためによく使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase with “の状況” or “に陥る” to describe a desperate, inescapable situation (“絶体絶命の状況”).
• Common in crisis or emergency contexts.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be mistaken as just “dangerous,” but it means utterly trapped with no way out.
Example
Basic Example
絶体絶命のピンチを切り抜けた。
We escaped from what seemed like a hopeless situation.
Applied Example
崖っぷちに立たされ、絶体絶命のはずなのに彼は笑っていた。
Cornered at the cliff’s edge, he smiled despite being in a desperate situation.