Sections
Zettai (絶対): what it means in anime
絶対
ぜったい · zettai · absolutely; definitely; unconditionally JLPT N3
Zettai means "absolutely" or "definitely", and with a negative, "never". 絶対に勝つ is "I will definitely win"; 絶対に許さない is "I will never forgive you".
Where you hear it 5 of 42 series
Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.
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Kaguya-sama · 10 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
好きになったほうが負けは 絶対のルールIn a romantic relationship, "the person who falls in love loses" is an absolute rule!
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Your Lie in April · 4 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
うん 絶対―Yeah, definitely-
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Demon Slayer · 6 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
それだけは絶対にあってはならない
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No Game No Life · 6 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
“賭けは絶対遵守される” だったな？
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The Promised Neverland · 6 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
みんなのこと 絶対 忘れない
Usage and nuance
It is the word of oaths and ultimatums, so it belongs to climaxes. Characters in The Promised Neverland say 絶対 about escaping; Kaguya-sama turns it into comedy by having two geniuses swear 絶対 not to confess first.
絶対 also works as a noun meaning "the absolute": 絶対的な力 is "absolute power". In casual speech 絶対 alone answers a question with "for sure".
The rhythm is ze-t-ta-i, with a pause on the double t. Dropping the pause makes it sound like a different word.
Hear 絶対 in Kaguya-sama10 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account