Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 1: 5/17

極(きわ)まりない

Extreme, Extremely

極まりない is used more often than 極まる, 極まりない is not a negative form of 極まる

Structure

［な］Adjective + （な + こと） + 極(きわ)まりない
［な］Adjective + （な + こと） + 極(きわ)まりない + Noun
［な］Adjective + 極(きわ)まる
［な］Adjective + 極(きわ)まる + Noun
［い］Adjective + こと + 極(きわ)まりない
［い］Adjective + こと + 極(きわ)まりない + Noun

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About 極まりない・極まる

Seen as either 極(きわ)まりない or 極(きわ)まる, this grammar structure makes use of the core meaning of the う-Verb 極(きわ)まる 'to be at the extremity of (A)', and will most often be translated simply as 'extremely (A)'. In most cases, this grammar pattern will appear following words that indicate some kind of negative state or emotion.
極(きわ)まる will be used immediately following な-Adjectives, while 極(きわ)まりない will come after こと when either a な-Adejctive or い-Adjective precedes it.
  • 傘(かさ)をさしながら自転車(じてんしゃ)を運転(うんてん)することは危険(きけん)極(きわ)まる行動(こうどう)なので、もっと厳(きび)しく取(と)り締(し)まるべきだ。
    Riding a bicycle while holding an umbrella is extremely dangerous behavior, so the police should more strictly enforce the law.
  • 理不尽(りふじん)極(きわ)まるクレームを言(い)われるたびにノイローゼになりそうになる。
    Every time I get an extremely unreasonable complaint, I feel like I'm going to have a mental breakdown.
  • この会社(かいしゃ)ではFAXを使(つか)わなくてはいけないので、不便(ふべん)なこと極(きわ)まりない。
    Since we have to use fax at my company, which is extremely inconvenient.
  • この展望台(てんぼうだい)から見(み)る景色(けしき)は美(うつく)しいこと極(きわ)まりない。
    The view from the observatory is extremely beautiful.
In the case of な-Adjectives, it is not a requirement that 極まりない be preceded by なこと, and it is actually more common for it to directly follow the な-Adjective without な.
  • 目上(めうえ)の人(ひと)に向(む)かってその口(くち)の聞(き)き方(かた)はなんだ。失礼(しつれい)極(きわ)まりないやつだな、お前(まえ)は。
    Why are you talking in such a manner to a person that is in a higher position than you? You are an extremely rude person, aren't you?
Caution
極(きわ)まりない is not the negative form of 極(きわ)まる, but the noun 極(きわ)まり 'the extremity' followed directly by the い-Adjective ない, with が omitted between them. This means that the more literal translation for the difference between the two would be something like the following.
失礼(しつれい)極(きわ)まりない - There is no limit to the rudeness of (A).
失礼(しつれい)極(きわ)まる - The rudeness of (A) goes to the limit.
As can be seen, while the meanings are opposite in some sense, the actual nuance of (A) being 'extremely' something remains the same. The actual negative form of 極(きわ)まる would be 極(きわ)まらない, and would mean that something does 'not go to the limit of (A)'.

Examples

  • 犯罪(はんざい)を犯(おか)すのは愚劣(ぐれつ)極(きわ)まりないことだ。

    It is extremely foolish to commit a crime.

  • 警察官(けいさつかん)は危険(きけん)極(きわ)まりない仕事(しごと)です。

    Police officers have an extremely dangerous job.

  • ホテルの従業(じゅうぎょう)員(いん)の不誠実(ふせいじつ)極(きわ)まりない態度(たいど)に飽(あ)き足(た)らず、支配人(しはいにん)に苦情(くじょう)を出(だ)した。

    I was so dissatisfied with the hotel personnel's extreme insincerity, that I complained to a manager.

  • 当初(とうしょ)、ベジータは残忍(ざんにん)極(きわ)まる人(ひと)だった。

    At first, Vegeta used to be an extremely cruel person.

  • ひらさわ・すすむさん：「さすがにグレープフルーツはサワー極(きわ)まる味(あじ)があるわよ。」

    Susumu Hirasawa-san: 'As expected from grapefruit juice, it has an extremely sour taste.'

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極まりない・極まる – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • mrthuvi

    mrthuvi

    About 2 years ago

    Is 極めて the adverbial form of “extreme”? 極まって seems to mean always, not extremely.

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 2 years ago

    Yes, 極めて (きわめて) is used that way. Note that 極まって “always” (きまって) is an alternative spelling of 決まって.

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