気絶する

• Reading: きぜつする
• Romaji: kizetsusuru
• Kanji breakdown: 気 (ki) — consciousness, spirit; 絶 (zetsu) — sever, cease, cut off
• Pronunciation: /ki.ze.t͡sɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To faint; to pass out; to lose consciousness. A sudden loss of awareness, typically brief.

A suru-verb meaning to lose consciousness temporarily. Used for fainting from shock, heat, pain, or fear. More formal than 倒れる (taoreru, to collapse), which describes the physical act of falling, while 気絶 focuses on the loss of consciousness itself. Common patterns include 気絶しそうになる (to nearly faint) for describing close calls, and 気絶してしまった (ended up fainting) for completed actions.

Examples

1. あまりの暑さに気絶しそうになった。 I nearly passed out from the intense heat.
2. 事故の衝撃で一瞬気絶してしまった。 The impact of the accident knocked me out for a moment.
3. 彼女は血を見て気絶した。 She fainted at the sight of blood.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, emergencies, storytelling

Tone: dramatic

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 気 (ki, consciousness/spirit) + 絶 (zetsu, sever/cease) + する (suru, to do). Literally 'consciousness ceasing' — the spirit is cut off temporarily.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal