絶壁（ぜっぺき、zeっpeki）
- cliff

The Japanese word 絶壁 (z-e-pp-e-ki) refers to a sheer cliff or precipice. It describes a very steep rock face, often found near the coast or in mountainous regions, that rises almost vertically. It emphasizes the abrupt and near-vertical nature of the drop. The word highlights the danger and impressive height of such a landscape feature.

⚫︎その山には、恐ろしい絶壁がある。 Translation: There is a terrifying sheer cliff on that mountain. ⚫︎船は絶壁の近くを航海した。 Translation: The ship sailed near the cliff. ⚫︎写真では、絶壁の上に建つ家が見えた。 Translation: In the photo, I saw a house built on the cliff.

This word is used to describe physical landscapes. It's suitable for describing natural formations in conversations, written descriptions (e.g., in a travelogue, novel, or scientific report), and in news reports. It is a common descriptive word used when talking about scenery or places.

⚫︎The word is primarily written using the kanji 絶壁. ⚫︎The reading is ぜっぺき (ze-pp-e-ki) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no significant variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎崖 (gake): Cliff ⚫︎断崖 (dankai): Cliff, precipice ⚫︎峭壁 (shouheki): Cliff, precipice (a more literary term)

⚫︎傾斜 (keisha): Slope, gradient ⚫︎緩やかな斜面 (yuru-yana shamen): Gentle slope

その登山家は、絶壁を登るのが得意だ。 ・Translation: That mountaineer is good at climbing cliffs. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a mountaineer's skill in climbing cliffs, using 絶壁 to specify the type of terrain.

嵐の後、絶壁が崩れ、土砂が海に流れ込んだ。 ・Translation: After the storm, the cliff collapsed, and debris flowed into the sea. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the consequences of a storm, emphasizing the danger and potential of a 絶壁 to be damaged by nature.

The word 絶壁 is formed from two kanji: ⚫︎絶 (zetsu): meaning "steep", "discontinue", "cut off" ⚫︎壁 (heki): meaning "wall", "cliff" The combination of these kanji accurately reflects the meaning of a vertical cliff face that seems to abruptly "cut off".