JLPT N1 grammar
〜極まりない — Meaning & Examples
"Extremely / the height of" — attaches to na-adjective stems, usually critical. 失礼極まりない = utterly rude. The ない is part of the pattern, not a negative. Cf. 感極まる = overcome with emotion.
〜極まりない — "Extremely" (with a Frown)
極まりない（きわまりない）attaches to na-adjective stems and means "extremely / utterly" — most often with a critical, disapproving tone.
Pattern: [na-adjective stem] + 極まりない
彼の態度は失礼極まりない。
= His attitude is the height of rudeness.
信号無視は危険極まりない行為だ。
= Running red lights is an extremely dangerous act.
遺憾極まりない結果となった。
= It was a deeply regrettable outcome.
Also: 〜極まる — same meaning, slightly more literary:
感極まって泣いてしまった。
= Overcome with emotion, I cried.
（感極まる = to be overcome with emotion — a set phrase worth memorising.）
Careful: 極まりない LOOKS negative (〜ない) but means "extremely," not "not extreme." The ない is part of the pattern.
Key feeling: Formal condemnation or intensity — the writer's eyebrows are raised. Common in editorials and formal complaints.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜極まりない. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 失礼極まりない means?
- Not rude at all
- Slightly rude
- Rude but forgivable
- The height of rudeness
Show answer
Answer: The height of rudeness
極まりない = "extremely / the height of." The ない is part of the pattern — it does NOT make it negative.
2. 極まりない attaches to what?
- Verb て-form
- I-adjectives only
- Na-adjective stems
- Particles
Show answer
Answer: Na-adjective stems
極まりない follows na-adjective stems: 失礼極まりない、危険極まりない、遺憾極まりない.
3. Accepting an award formally, you would say...
- 退屈といったらない (taikutsu to ittara nai)
- 光栄の至りです (kouei no itari desu)
- 危険極まりない (kiken kiwamarinai)
- 若気の至りです (wakage no itari desu)
Show answer
Answer: 光栄の至りです (kouei no itari desu)
光栄の至りです = "it is the greatest honour" — the classic award-speech phrase.
Practise 〜極まりない in the free app
This point is part of the “Extreme Degree — 極まりない・の極み・の至り・といったらない” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: Extreme Degree — 極まりない・の極み・の至り・といったらない
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜極まりない mean?
"Extremely / the height of" — attaches to na-adjective stems, usually critical. 失礼極まりない = utterly rude. The ない is part of the pattern, not a negative. Cf. 感極まる = overcome with emotion.
Is 〜極まりない on the JLPT N1 test?
〜極まりない is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Extreme Degree — 極まりない・の極み・の至り・といったらない”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜極まりない?
Open the “Extreme Degree — 極まりない・の極み・の至り・といったらない” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.