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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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.

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.

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

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    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.'

    ブログの投稿(とうこう)：「食(た)べながら話(はな)すことは、失礼(しつれい)極(きわ)まりない行為(こうい)だと考(かんが)えられている。」

    Blog post: 'Talking while eating is considered to be an extremely rude act.'

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極まりない・極まる – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • mrthuvi

    mrthuvi

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

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    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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