Kanji 絶 discontinue, sever, cut off Related words 絶た えない 絶えない is a more general adjective meaning 'unceasing' or 'constant', while 後を絶たず is a fixed phrase specifically meaning that something continues without interruption, often with a nuance of being problematic or noteworthy.
Written forms 後あと を 絶た たず
Standard kanji spelling for this fixed expression.
あとを 絶た たず
Kana spelling is sometimes used for clarity or in informal writing.
Etymology A fixed expression composed of 後 (あと , 'after' or 'trace') + を (object marker) + 絶たず (たたず , negative continuative form of 絶つ 'to cut off'). Literally 'without cutting off the trace', it came to mean that something continues without ceasing.
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