極まる / 極まりない
🃏 Flashcard
極まる / 極まりない
kiwamaru/ kiwamarinai
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extremely; very ~
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
kiwamaru/ kiwamarinai
Post ID
51246
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
extremely; very ~
📖 How to use it
Describes something as being at the utmost extreme of a quality, often with a negative or intense nuance.
Attaches to
Attaches to the stem of a な-adjective (e.g., 失礼極まる) or to the noun form of a な-adjective (e.g., 不愉快極まる). For 極まりない, attach to the same stem (e.g., 失礼極まりない). Do not use with い-adjectives or verbs.
This pattern is used to emphasize that something is extremely or utterly a certain quality. It is quite formal and often carries a strong negative evaluation, such as in 失礼極まる (utterly rude) or 危険極まりない (extremely dangerous). In modern Japanese, 極まる and 極まりない are interchangeable in meaning, but 極まりない is slightly more common in written language and feels a bit more emphatic. Note that the pattern is not used in casual conversation; it belongs to formal writing, speeches, or serious reports. When using it, the adjective stem functions like a noun, so you cannot add だ or な after it before this pattern.
彼の態度は失礼極まりない。
Kare no taido wa shitsurei kiwamarinai.
His attitude is extremely rude.
この計画は危険極まるものだ。
Kono keikaku wa kiken kiwamaru mono da.
This plan is extremely dangerous.
会議での彼女の発言は不愉快極まりなかった。
Kaigi de no kanojo no hatsugen wa fuyukai kiwamarinakatta.
Her remarks at the meeting were utterly unpleasant.
Not 極めて (kiwamete)
極めて is an adverb meaning 'extremely' and modifies verbs or adjectives directly (e.g., 極めて危険だ). The pattern 極まる/極まりない is a suffix that attaches to a noun/adjective stem and makes the whole phrase function as a noun or な-adjective (e.g., 危険極まる).
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Formal and literary; used in written language, formal speeches, or serious reports, not in everyday conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
極まる / 極まりない
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 極まる / 極まりない 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 極まる / 極まりない. 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.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 極まる / 極まりない mean?
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Extremely; very ~
What JLPT level is 極まる / 極まりない?
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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 極まる / 極まりない in a sentence?
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Attach 極まる / 極まりない (kiwamaru/ kiwamarinai) 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 極まる / 極まりない formal or casual Japanese?
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極まる / 極まりない 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 極まる / 極まりない 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.