“〜kiwamarinai・kiwamaru”: Extremely / Utterly 〜 (the utmost degree) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

A written, emphatic expression of the highest degree

「失礼極まりない態度」 — extremely ～, ～ to the utmost

To strongly say “～ to the utmost, extremely ～,” written Japanese has a set of hyperbolic superlatives — 「その態度は、失礼極まりない (that attitude is extremely rude).」 「〜極まりない／〜限りなく」 = extremely ～, utterly ～, ～ to the utmost. It's a written superlative hyperbole. This guide clarifies 「極まりない (extremely ～, mostly negative)」 and 「限りなく (infinitely close),」 separating them from 「の極み」「てたまらない.」

Core: extremely ～, ～ to the utmost (a written superlative hyperbole)

This is a set of written expressions for “the utmost degree”:

①「(na-adjective stem) ＋ 極まりない／極まる」 = extremely ～, ～ to the utmost, utterly ～ (mostly negative／derogatory adjectives):

• 彼の言動は、無責任極まりない (his conduct is extremely irresponsible).
• 単身での登頂は、危険極まる行為だ (a solo summit is an extremely dangerous act).

②「限りなく（かぎりなく）」 = infinitely, infinitely close to (限りなく～に近い):

• その液体は、限りなく透明に近い (that liquid is infinitely close to transparent).
• 成功の確率は、限りなくゼロに近い (the odds of success are infinitely close to zero).

Feel: 「極まりない」 = “extremely ～, ～ to the utmost, utterly ～,” a superlative hyperbole, ⚠️mostly with negative, derogatory na-adjective stems (失礼／危険／不愉快／遺憾). 「極まりない」 and 「極まる」 mean the same (both “extremely ～”). 「限りなく」 = “infinitely, infinitely close,” often with 「〜に近い」 (限りなく透明に近い = infinitely close to transparent). Both lean written, hyperbolic. In English: extremely ～, ～ to the utmost, utterly, infinitely close.

How it attaches

Examples in use

• 客をないがしろにするとは、失礼極まりない。(To slight a customer is extremely rude.)
• 準備もせず本番に臨むのは、無謀極まる。(Facing the real thing without preparation is utterly reckless.)
• あの日の光景は、感慨極まりないものだった。(That day's scene was one of the deepest feeling.)
• 彼の計算は、限りなく正解に近かった。(His calculation was infinitely close to the right answer.)
• 二人の実力は、限りなく互角に近い。(The two's abilities are infinitely close to even.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「極まりない」 = extremely ～, ～ to the utmost (a superlative), mostly with negative／derogatory na-adjectives. This is 「極まりない」's core feel and limit. It means “～ to the utmost, extremely ～, utterly ～,” a superlative hyperbole, and mostly with negative, derogatory na-adjective stems — 失礼 (rude), 危険 (dangerous), 不愉快 (unpleasant), 無責任 (irresponsible), 遺憾 (regrettable), 卑劣 (base): 失礼極まりない (extremely rude), 危険極まりない (extremely dangerous), 不愉快極まりない (extremely unpleasant). It's often to strongly criticize, condemn some negative conduct, state. (A few neutral／positive ones also work, like 感慨極まりない = deeply moving, but the mainstream is negative.) Test: to strongly say “extremely ～, ～ to the utmost” (mostly a negative criticism) → 極まりない.

② 「極まりない」 and 「極まる」 mean the same. In attachment, 「(na-adj stem) ＋ 極まりない」 and 「(na-adj stem) ＋ 極まる」 mean exactly the same (both “extremely ～, ～ to the utmost”): 危険極まりない = 危険極まる (extremely dangerous), 失礼極まりない = 失礼極まる (extremely rude). 「極まりない」 is the negative form of 「極まる (reach the extreme),」 but its meaning isn't negative — it's “(can't be more ～ =) extremely ～” — an idiomatic superlative, 「極まりない／極まる」 interchangeable. Test: 「極まりない」 = 「極まる」 (both extremely ～), interchangeable.

③ 「限りなく」 = infinitely, infinitely close (限りなく～に近い). This is 「限りなく」's use. 「限りなく（かぎりなく）」 = “infinitely, infinitely close,” most often with 「〜に近い,」 for “infinitely close to some state／value”: 限りなく透明に近い (infinitely close to transparent — a famous novel title), 限りなくゼロに近い (infinitely close to zero), 限りなく黒に近いグレー (a gray infinitely close to black). It stresses “though not fully ～, infinitely, extremely close to ～.” Test: to say “infinitely close to ～” → 限りなく (＋ に近い).

④ Separate it from 「てたまらない」 — 極まりない leans ‘(a quality) extremely ～ (an objective evaluation),' てたまらない leans ‘(a feeling／emotion) unbearably ～ (a subjective sensation).' Both express “extreme,” but from different angles. 「(na-adj stem) ＋ 極まりない」 = extremely ～, ～ to the utmost (a superlative ‘evaluation' of some quality, state, written): 失礼極まりない (extremely rude — an extreme evaluation of the quality “rude”), 危険極まりない (extremely dangerous). It's an objective, written extreme evaluation of some quality／state. 「〜てたまらない」 = unbearably ～, ～ terribly (a ‘subjective sensation／emotion' strong enough to be unbearable, see 〈てたまらない〉): 暑くてたまらない (unbearably hot — a subjective discomfort), 会いたくてたまらない (dying to meet — a subjective emotion), 痛くてたまらない (unbearably painful). It's a subjective sensation, emotion strong enough to be unbearable. Difference: 「極まりない」 = an extreme evaluation of some quality (objective, written, mostly negative criticism); 「てたまらない」 = a subjective sensation／emotion unbearably strong (see 〈てたまらない〉). Test: to give the evaluation “extremely ～” of some quality, state (rude／dangerous) → 極まりない; to express a subjective “unbearably (hot／painful／longing) ～” → てたまらない.

🔄 Compare: 極まりない／の極み／この上ない／てたまらない

💡 Quick takeaway

This lesson covers two superlatives at once: 「〜極まりない／極まる」 = extremely ～, ～ to the utmost and 「限りなく」 = infinitely close. The trick for 「極まりない」 — it's a superlative evaluation, and mostly with negative, derogatory na-adjective stems (失礼／危険／不愉快極まりない), often to strongly criticize, condemn; 「極まりない」 and 「極まる」 are interchangeable. 「限りなく」 is “infinitely close,” often with 「〜に近い」 (限りなくゼロに近い). Both are written, hyperbolic, forceful in criticism, formal writing; for everyday “super ～, ～ to death,” 「すごく」「めちゃくちゃ」 are more natural. To strongly condemn “extremely rude／dangerous,” 「極まりない」 has the most weight; to say “infinitely close to ～,” use 「限りなく.」 (Note: though this article's id is tsukushi, its true topic is 「極まりない／限りなく.」)

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: Is 「極まりない」 a negative form? Why is 「危険極まりない」 ‘extremely dangerous,' not ‘not dangerous'?

It's formally a negative, but its meaning isn't negative — it's the superlative “extremely ～, ～ to the point of no more.” This is the most misread point. 「極まりない」's 「ない」 looks like a negative, but the whole 「極まりない」 is an idiomatic superlative meaning “～ to the utmost, extremely ～,” not “not ～”! Its logic: 「極まる」 = “reach the extreme, peak,” and 「極まりない」 literally is “(not) reaching the extreme,” but idiomatized, its meaning becomes “(the degree of ～ is so high that) it can go no higher = extremely ～” (like the Chinese “(good) beyond words, (beautiful) unbelievably,” a negative form yet extreme affirmation). So 「危険極まりない」 = “extremely dangerous, dangerous to the utmost” (not “not dangerous”), 「失礼極まりない」 = “extremely rude.” ⚠️Proof: 「極まりない」 and the affirmative 「極まる」 mean exactly the same — 危険極まりない = 危険極まる (both “extremely dangerous”) — showing 「極まりない」's 「ない」 isn't a negative here. Test: on seeing 「(na-adj stem) 極まりない,」 always read it as “extremely ～, ～ to the utmost” (a superlative affirmation), don't be misled by 「ない」 into a negative. It's an idiomatic superlative, 「極まりない = 極まる = extremely ～.」

Q: What adjectives can precede 「極まりない」? Why mostly negative?

「極まりない／極まる」 precedes a na-adjective stem, and mostly negative, derogatory ones: 失礼 (rude), 危険 (dangerous), 不愉快 (unpleasant), 無責任 (irresponsible), 遺憾 (regrettable), 卑劣 (base), 理不尽 (unreasonable), 滑稽 (ridiculous) — 失礼極まりない, 危険極まりない, 不愉快極まりない, 無責任極まりない. Why mostly negative? Because 「極まりない」 is a strong superlative evaluation, often for criticizing, condemning, lamenting some negative conduct or state — “(this is way too) ～ to the utmost,” with strong displeasure, censure — so it naturally pairs mostly with negative adjectives. ⚠️Note: not all adjectives work — it takes a na-adjective stem expressing ‘degree／quality,' mostly negative. A few neutral／positive ones also work (感慨極まりない = deeply moving, 感無量), but the mainstream, most typical is negative criticism (失礼／危険／不愉快). ⚠️Also, ordinary i-adjectives (高い, 寒い) don't take 「極まりない」 (not 「高極まりない」); use another expression for “extremely ～.” Test: 「極まりない」 precedes a na-adjective stem (mostly negative) — 失礼／危険／不愉快極まりない; best for strongly criticizing “extremely (negative) ～.”

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「順番を守らないとは、非常識___。」(utterly lacking in common sense)

(A) 極まりない　(B) に過ぎない　(C) を禁じ得ない　(D) に当たらない

Q2. What does 「極まりない」 most often attach to?

(A) na-adjectives with a negative evaluation (失礼・危険・退屈)

(B) food

(C) places

(D) time

Q3. What does 「危険極まりない」 mean?

(A) Extremely dangerous (to the utmost)

(B) Not the least bit dangerous

(C) A little dangerous

(D) Safe

Q4. What is the relationship between 「極まりない」 and 「極まる」?

(A) Same meaning (both = extremely / to the utmost)

(B) Opposite meanings

(C) One affirmative, one negative

(D) Completely unrelated

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 失礼極まりない態度。　(B) 失礼を極まりない。

(C) 失礼極まりないだ高い。　(D) 高い極まりない(い形は不可)。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) 極まりない ── Utterly lacking in common sense.

2. (A) ── Mostly attaches to negative na-adjectives.

3. (A) ── Extremely dangerous.

4. (A) ── 極まりない = 極まる.

5. (A) ── 「失礼極まりない態度」 is correct (na-adjective stem).