の至り
🃏 Flashcard
の至り
no itari
Tap to reveal usage
utmost; extremely ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
no itari
Post ID
51327
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
utmost; extremely ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something is the utmost or extreme of a feeling, often in fixed formal phrases.
Attaches to
Attaches to a limited set of nouns, typically those denoting feelings such as 感激, 恐縮, 光栄, 喜び, and occasionally to な-adjective stems like 若気 (though rare). The noun is followed by の至り.
の至り is a very formal, written expression used to say that a feeling is at its highest degree. It appears in set phrases like 感激の至り (utmost gratitude) or 恐縮の至り (deeply honored). You use it when you want to sound highly respectful and humble, often in speeches, official letters, or ceremonial contexts. It is not used in everyday conversation; saying it to a friend would sound strange and overly stiff. Because it is limited in what nouns it can attach to, learning the common phrases is more practical than trying to create new combinations.
この度はご支援いただき、感激の至りです。
Kono tabi wa go-shien itadaki, kangeki no itari desu.
We are deeply grateful for your support on this occasion.
式典でお言葉をいただき、光栄の至りに存じます。
Shikiten de o-kotoba o itadaki, kōei no itari ni zonjimasu.
It is the utmost honor to have received your words at the ceremony.
お忙しいところお越しいただき、恐縮の至りです。
O-isogashii tokoro o-koshi itadaki, kyōshuku no itari desu.
We are truly humbled that you came despite your busy schedule.
Not の極み
の極み also means 'the height of' but attaches to a wider range of nouns (e.g., 疲労の極み, 感激の極み) and is slightly more common in written Japanese. の至り is more fixed and often follows nouns of humility or gratitude.
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Highly formal and stiff; used almost exclusively in official speeches, written correspondence, or ceremonial situations, not in casual speech.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
の至り
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat の至り 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 の至り. 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 の至り mean?
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Utmost; extremely ~
What JLPT level is の至り?
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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 の至り in a sentence?
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Attach の至り (no itari) 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 の至り formal or casual Japanese?
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の至り 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 の至り 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.