Meaning
绝食 literally means 'to cut off food' and refers to the deliberate refusal to eat as a form of protest or extreme measure. It is most commonly associated with political hunger strikes or desperate acts to draw attention to a cause or grievance.
Usage
This word carries serious connotations and is typically used in formal contexts involving protests, political demonstrations, or extreme situations. It is not used for religious fasting (斋戒) or casual dieting. Often appears in news reports about activists or prisoners. The verb can take duration complements like 绝食三天 (hunger strike for three days).
Examples
- 01囚犯们为了改善待遇开始绝食抗议。.The prisoners began a hunger strike to improve their treatment.
- 02他已经绝食三天了，身体非常虚弱。, .He has been on a hunger strike for three days and is very weak.
Characters
Measure words
- 次进行了一次绝食
Common collocations
- 绝食抗议hunger strike protest
- 绝食斗争hunger strike struggle
- 进行绝食to carry out a hunger strike
- 绝食身亡to die from hunger strike
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 绝 (to cut off completely) with 食 (food/eating), creating a compound that literally means to completely cut off eating. This direct composition reflects the absolute nature of refusing all food.