‘绝交’ is a formal, somewhat literary verb meaning 'to sever friendship' or 'to break off relations permanently.' The character 绝 (jué) means 'to cut off,' 'to terminate,' or 'to exhaust,' conveying finality and irrevocability; 交 (jiāo) means 'to associate,' 'to interact,' or 'to make friends.' Together, they express the deliberate, decisive ending of a friendship—often due to deep betrayal, irreconcilable conflict, or moral disagreement. Unlike casual drifting apart, 绝交 implies intentionality and emotional gravity.

This term is commonly used in written Chinese (essays, novels, historical texts) and formal speech, but rarely in everyday conversation among young people, who may prefer softer phrases like '不联系了' (we stopped contacting each other). It carries weight and solemnity—similar in tone to English expressions like 'cut ties' or 'go our separate ways forever.' While it can describe mutual agreement, it’s often initiated unilaterally and suggests no expectation of reconciliation.