きっての
🃏 Flashcard
きっての
kitte no
Tap to reveal usage
the most / greatest … of all
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
kitte no
Post ID
51245
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
the most / greatest … of all
📖 How to use it
Used to emphasize that something or someone is the most prominent or greatest of all in a group or category.
Attaches to
Attaches to a noun, forming a compound noun: [noun] + きっての + [noun].
This pattern singles out one member of a category as the most outstanding. It is similar to saying 'the leading', 'the foremost', or 'the biggest' in English. For example, 日本きっての観光地 means 'Japan's top tourist spot'. It often appears with nouns like 名所, 企業, 選手, or 都市.
きっての is a formal and somewhat literary expression. You will encounter it in news articles, essays, and documentaries, but rarely in casual conversation. When speaking, you might instead say 一番 or 最も. Also, note that きっての must be followed by a noun; it cannot end a sentence.
京都は日本きっての観光都市だ。
Kyoto wa Nihon kitte no kankō toshi da.
Kyoto is Japan's foremost tourist city.
彼はこの業界きっての実力者として知られている。
Kare wa kono gyōkai kitte no jitsuryokusha to shite shirarete iru.
He is known as the most influential figure in this industry.
このレストランは町きっての味として評判だ。
Kono resutoran wa machi kitte no aji to shite hyōban da.
This restaurant is reputed to have the best food in town.
Not 随一の (zuiichi no)
Both mean 'the foremost', but きっての is often used with places or groups (e.g., 日本きっての, 業界きっての), while 随一の can also be used for abilities or qualities (e.g., 随一の技術). They are largely interchangeable, but きっての may carry a slightly more literary tone.
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Formal and written; used in news, essays, and speeches, not in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
きっての
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat きっての three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using きっての. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern きっての mean?
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The most / greatest … of all
What JLPT level is きっての?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use きっての in a sentence?
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Attach きっての (kitte no) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is きっての formal or casual Japanese?
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きっての is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember きっての long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.