絶える|たえるtaeru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto die out; to peter out; to become extinctいまはもうこの種のちょうは絶えてしまっている。↗Butterflies of this species are now extinct.
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto cease; to be stopped; to be discontinued; to be cut off
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 絶える（たえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 絶えます（たえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 絶えない（たえない） |
| polite (masen) | 絶えません（たえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 絶えず・絶えぬ（たえず・たえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 絶えた（たえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 絶えました（たえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 絶えなかった（たえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 絶えませんでした（たえませんでした） |
| Te form | 絶えて（たえて） |
| Potential | 絶えられる（たえられる） |
| Passive | 絶えられる（たえられる） |
| Causative | 絶えさせる（たえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 絶えさせられる（たえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 絶えれば（たえれば） |
| tara | 絶えたら（たえたら） |
| Volitional | 絶えよう（たえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 絶えましょう（たえましょう） |
| Imperative | 絶えろ（たえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
血筋が絶える
絶える focuses on something coming to an end or dying out on its own (as in 血筋が絶える), while 絶やす emphasizes deliberately causing something to be cut off or wiped out (as in 害虫を絶やす).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym滅びるほろびるNeutral「滅びる」 is for nations or civilizations perishing; 「絶える」 centers on ties, bloodlines or sounds being cut off.
- Synonym死滅しめつWrittenWritten word for bacteria and the like dying off entirely; a scientific lean. 「絶える」 stresses things being cut off.
- Synonym絶滅ぜつめつNeutralThe extinction of a species. 「絶える」 is broader, also covering news or contact being cut off.
- Synonym死に絶えるしにたえるNeutralSays every last member of a kind has died out. 「絶える」 also covers a break in contact or correspondence.
- Related廃絶はいぜつWrittenAbolishing something such as a system or nuclear weapons. 「絶える」 suggests a natural dying out on its own.
- Related滅亡めつぼうWrittenThe downfall of a nation or state. 「絶える」 is about bloodlines or ties being severed.
- Related滅ぶほろぶWrittenGodan verb with the same meaning as 「滅びる」 — to perish — with a slightly literary feel. 「絶える」 is about interruption or severance.
- Related滅失めっしつWrittenWritten term for property being destroyed or lost; mainly legal usage.
- Antonym続くつづくNeutralTo continue or last — the direct opposite of 「絶える」 when it means something being cut off.
- Antonym絶えないNeutralThe negative form: never ceasing, going on and on — the opposite of 「絶える」, as in 「笑いが絶えない」.
Use 「絶える」 for bloodlines, ties or sounds coming to an end, as in 「連絡が絶える」 or 「息が絶える」; 「絶えない」 means it never stops. For the fall of a nation pick 「滅びる」, for species extinction 「絶滅」, and for continuing 「続く」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
