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JLPT N112画 · 12 strokesradical 木grade 4freq #460

extreme, pole, extremely, very

Also: highly, most, end, settlement, conclusion, highest rank

On'yomi (音読み)

  • キョク
  • ゴク

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • きわ.める
  • きわ.まる
  • きわ.まり
  • きわ.み
  • き.める
  • -ぎ.め
  • き.まる

Mnemonic

At the extreme pole, a solitary tree stands frozen, illustrating nature's harshness and the limits of endurance in the cold.

About this kanji

The kanji 極 primarily means "extreme" or "pole." It is often used as a noun, but it can also function as a verb when expressing the idea of reaching an extreme limit. For instance, 極右 (きょくう) refers to "far right" in a political context, while 極端 (きょくたん) means "extreme." You may also encounter 極東 (きょくとう), which translates to "Far East," and 南極 (なんきょく), meaning "South Pole." As a usage note, 極 can convey the idea of something being very high or very low in degree, highlighting its versatility in various contexts.

Example sentences

  • 極端な意見は避けよう。

    Let's avoid extreme opinions.

Meanings across languages

English
extreme, pole, extremely, very, highly, most, end, settlement, conclusion, highest rank
Tiếng Việt
cực đoan, cuối cùng
日本語
極端, 終了
한국어
극단적인, 가장 높은
中文
极端, 最终
id
ekstrem
th
สุดขั้ว
es
extremo
fr
extrême
de
Extrem
pt
extremo

Common compounds

  • 極右きょくうfar right (in politics), extreme right, ultraright
  • 極端きょくたんextreme, extremity
  • 極東きょくとうFar East
  • 積極せっきょくactive, positive, progressive
  • 南極なんきょくSouth Pole, the Antarctic, Antarctica
  • 消極的しょうきょくてきnegative, passive, half-hearted
  • 積極的せっきょくてきpositive, assertive, active
  • 究極きゅうきょくultimate, final, last

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