〜の極み
no kiwami
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
the extreme of …; the ultimate …
〜の極み means "the very limit of X": 贅沢の極み (the height of luxury), 疲労の極み (utter exhaustion), 痛恨の極み (the bitterest regret). It is a noun phrase, so it can be the predicate (〜の極みだ) or take particles (疲労の極みに達する). It works for states of things and people, not just the speaker's own feelings.
Formal written Japanese: commentary, editorials, formal apologies (痛恨の極み is common in public statements). It can describe the speaker (感激の極み), a third party (疲労の極みにある選手) or a thing (贅沢の極み).
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N + の極み (贅沢・疲労・痛恨・感激・不幸・美)〜の極みだ / 〜の極みに達する / 〜の極みにある
Visual diagram
- 連日の残業でcause
- 社員はsubject
- 疲労state noun
- の極みthe extreme of
- に達しているhas reached
Natural examples
こんな豪華な料理を毎日食べるなんて、贅沢の極みだ。
こんなごうかなりょうりをまいにちたべるなんて、ぜいたくのきわみだ。
Eating such lavish food every day is the height of luxury.
贅沢の極み is the most common phrase: luxury at its most extreme.
連日の残業で、社員は疲労の極みに達している。
れんじつのざんぎょうで、しゃいんはひろうのきわみにたっしている。
With overtime day after day, the employees have reached the limit of exhaustion.
疲労の極みに達する: a physical state of a third party, which の至り cannot describe.
あの一球を打てなかったのは痛恨の極みだ。
あのいっきゅうをうてなかったのはつうこんのきわみだ。
Not hitting that one pitch is the bitterest regret.
痛恨の極み: used in public apologies and sports commentary.
今回の不祥事は、当社にとって痛恨の極みであります。
こんかいのふしょうじは、とうしゃにとってつうこんのきわみであります。
This scandal is a matter of the deepest regret for our company.
Corporate apology style; であります is very formal.
あの職人の技は、まさに美の極みと言える。
あのしょくにんのわざは、まさにびのきわみといえる。
That craftsman's skill can truly be called the pinnacle of beauty.
の極み can describe a quality of a thing.
Similar grammar and the difference
Limited to the speaker's own feeling in humble speech (光栄の至り). の極み is broader. Compare side by side
Same kanji, but attaches to na-adjectives to mean "extremely" (危険極まりない). Compare side by side
"As much as one can" (力の限り); a limit of effort, not the extreme of a state. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 光栄の極みです。（受賞スピーチで）
- ✓
- 光栄の至りです。
- Why
- 光栄 is conventionally paired with の至り in speeches. Use の極み for 贅沢・疲労・痛恨.
- ✗
- 疲れの極みだ。
- ✓
- 疲労の極みだ。
- Why
- The nouns are Sino-Japanese (漢語): 疲労, not 疲れ.
- ✗
- この料理は贅沢極みだ。
- ✓
- この料理は贅沢の極みだ。
- Why
- The connecting の is required.
The most frequent nouns: 贅沢・疲労・痛恨・感激・不幸・悲嘆・美・愚か. 痛恨の極み is a formula in apologies and post-match interviews; 贅沢の極み is often used half-jokingly. の極みに達する / の極みにある are set verbal frames.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- If the noun is 贅沢・疲労・痛恨, の極み is almost certainly the answer.
- Distractors: の至り, 極まりない, の限り. Check the noun and whether a third party or a thing is described.
- In 並べ替え, keep N + の極み together and look for だ / に達する after it.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜の極み mean?
the extreme of …; the ultimate …. 〜の極み means "the very limit of X": 贅沢の極み (the height of luxury), 疲労の極み (utter exhaustion), 痛恨の極み (the bitterest regret). It is a noun phrase, so it can be the predicate (〜の極みだ) or take particles (疲労の極みに達する). It works for states of things and people, not just the speaker's own feelings.
How do you form 〜の極み?
N + の極み (贅沢・疲労・痛恨・感激・不幸・美) / 〜の極みだ / 〜の極みに達する / 〜の極みにある. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜の極み used?
Formal written Japanese: commentary, editorials, formal apologies (痛恨の極み is common in public statements). It can describe the speaker (感激の極み), a third party (疲労の極みにある選手) or a thing (贅沢の極み).
What is the difference between 〜の極み and 〜の至り?
Limited to the speaker's own feeling in humble speech (光栄の至り). の極み is broader.
What is the difference between 〜の極み and 〜極まる / 〜極まりない?
Same kanji, but attaches to na-adjectives to mean "extremely" (危険極まりない).
What is a common mistake with 〜の極み?
Wrong: 光栄の極みです。（受賞スピーチで） Right: 光栄の至りです。 光栄 is conventionally paired with の至り in speeches. Use の極み for 贅沢・疲労・痛恨.
Quick check
一日中歩き回って、疲労（ ）に達した。