GRAMMAR
〜の極み
height of
peak of
Explanation
NOTE
〜の極み means the height of or the peak of — a state has reached its absolute extreme.
この料理は贅沢の極みだ。
This dish is the height of luxury.
NOTE
It is formal and literary. It often follows nouns of strong emotion or extreme states, like 感動 or 疲労.
彼の演奏は感動の極みだった。
His performance was the height of emotion.
の極み expresses an extreme that cannot be surpassed.
NOTE
Attach の極み directly to a noun. It usually follows abstract nouns describing feelings or conditions.
STRUCTURE
N辞
の<ruby>極<rt>きわ</rt></ruby>み長旅の後、疲労の極みに達した。
Nagatabi no ato, hirou no kiwami ni tasshita.
After the long trip, I reached the peak of exhaustion.
名前を間違えるとは失礼の極みだ。
Namae o machigaeru to wa shitsurei no kiwami da.
Getting my name wrong is the height of rudeness.
賞を頂き、光栄の極みです。
Shou o itadaki, kouei no kiwami desu.
Receiving this award is the height of honor.
Practice exercises
1
毎日残業で、疲労の極みだ。
With overtime every day, I am at the peak of exhaustion.
Answer
の極み
2
会場の飾りは豪華の極みだった。
The decorations at the venue were the height of splendor.
Answer
の極み
3
大切な友人を失い、悲しみの極みにいる。
Having lost a dear friend, I am in the depths of sorrow.
Answer
の極み
4
このような状況に陥ったことは遺憾の極みである。
Falling into such a situation is the height of regret.
Answer
の極み
5
この不始末は慚愧の極みだ。
This misconduct is the height of shame.
Answer
の極み
6
失敗は遺憾の極みといったらない。
The failure is truly the height of regret, beyond words.
Answer
の極み
7
彼の行動は不愉快の極み極まりない。
His behavior is the peak of unpleasantness, extremely so.
Answer
の極み
8
この事態は慚愧の極みで、面目ないの至りだ。
This situation is the height of shame, truly utterly disgraceful.
Answer
の極み