JLPT N1 Grammar – Difference between “〜の極み” and “〜の至り”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜の極きわみ” and “〜の至いたり”
2. 〜の極きわみ
3. 〜の至いたり
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment

Q: Is there a difference between “〜の極きわみ” and “〜の至いたり”?

A: Both expressions indicate “to an extreme degree” or “the highest state,” but they differ clearly in usage context, nuance, and grammatical constraints.

～の極きわみ (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
Expresses that a certain state or degree has reached its limit or the highest possible level

[Rule]
[N] Noun + の極きわみ

[Commonly Used Words]
幸しあわせ (Happiness), 感動かんどう (emotion), 贅沢ぜいたく (luxury), 美び (beauty), 苦くるしみ (suffering), 不幸ふこう (misfortune), 痛恨つうこん (deep regret), etc.

[Examples]
この旅館りょかんの料理りょうりは贅沢ぜいたくの極きわみです。
The food at this ryokan is the height of luxury.

あの光景こうけいはまさに美びの極きわみそのものでした。
That scene was truly the very embodiment of ultimate beauty.

“〜の極きわみ” expresses that something has reached the peak or highest point of a certain state.
It is a broad and flexible expression that can be used for both physical and sensory experiences, and for positive as well as negative situations.

[Examples with Positive Nuance]
旅館りょかんでは海うみの幸さちや絶景ぜっけいを堪能たんのうできて、まさに贅沢ぜいたくの極きわみでした。
At the ryokan, we were able to fully enjoy fresh seafood and breathtaking views — it was truly the height of luxury.
⇒ This conveys a deeply memorable and emotionally moving sense of luxury.

母国ぼこくの選手せんしゅがオリンピックで金きんメダルを取とったときは、感動かんどうの極きわみでした。
When an athlete from my home country won a gold medal at the Olympics, it was the peak of emotion.
⇒ This expresses a state of overwhelming joy and pride reaching its highest point.

[Examples with Negative Nuance]
戦争せんそうで家族かぞくをすべて失うしなった彼かれは、苦くるしみの極きわみを味あじわいました。
He lost his entire family in the war and experienced the depths of suffering.
⇒This expresses that he went through the deepest level of pain one can face in life.

信頼しんらいしていた人ひとに裏切うらぎられ、騙だまされたときは、不幸ふこうの極きわみでした。
When he was betrayed and deceived by someone he trusted, it was the height of misfortune.
⇒This conveys that it was an extremely tragic and unbearable experience.

～の至いたり (JLPT N1)　

[Meaning]
A polite and humble expression used to indicate that a certain emotion or state has reached its highest point

[Rule]
[N] Noun + の至いたり

[Commonly Used Words]
光栄こうえい (Honor), 感激かんげき (deep emotion), 恐縮きょうしゅく (humility), 赤面せきめん (embarrassment) , 無念むねん (regret), etc.

[Examples]
このような立派りっぱな賞しょうをいただき、光栄こうえいの至いたりです。
I am deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award.

お忙いそがしいところ、ご足労そくろう頂いただき恐縮きょうしゅくの至いたりです。
Thank you for going out of your way to come here today — I am truly humbled.

“〜の至いたり” is mainly used with nouns that express abstract or emotional states, indicating that one’s feelings have reached their highest point.
It is often used in situations where the speaker humbly expresses their own feelings, making it a formal and respectful expression.
Compared to “〜の極きわみ,” it has less flexibility in usage and is typically used in fixed or conventional phrases.

[Examples]
尊敬そんけいする先生せんせいにお褒ほめの言葉ことばをいただき、恐縮きょうしゅくの至いたりです。
I am truly humbled to have received words of praise from a teacher I deeply respect.

今回こんかい、無事ぶじに完了かんりょうできましたのは皆みな様さまのおかげでございます。皆みな様さまのお力添ちからぞえにあずかり、感激かんげきの至いたりに存ぞんじます。
This project was completed successfully thanks to all of you. I am sincerely grateful for your support.

上司じょうしにタメ口ぐちで話はなしてしまったのも、若気わかげの至いたりでした。
Speaking casually to my boss was a result of youthful indiscretion.
⇒ This reflects on one’s younger self who lacked common sense due to youth.

“若気わかげの至いたり” is an idiomatic expression used when looking back on mistakes or impulsive actions made in youth out of immaturity or recklessness, often from an adult perspective.

Let’s Compare

Which expression is more appropriate in the following case?

[Example]
このステンドグラスの光ひかりと色いろの構成こうせいが見事みごとで、まさに職人しょくにん技わざの極きわみです。
このステンドグラスの光ひかりと色いろの構成こうせいが見事みごとで、まさに職人しょくにん技わざの至いたりです。

The correct answer is ①職人しょくにん技わざの極きわみ.

“〜の極きわみ” is used to objectively express high praise for something. It is often applied in fields such as art, technique, or performance, and conveys meanings like “nothing can surpass this” or “the highest level of perfection.”

[Examples]
このレストランの日本にほん料理りょうりは、味あじの極きわみと言いえる逸品いっぴんです。
This restaurant’s Japanese cuisine is a true masterpiece — it can be called the pinnacle of flavor.
⇒ This expresses that the taste has reached the highest level, unmatched by any other.

日本にほん庭園ていえんの造形ぞうけいは、自然しぜんと人ひとの調和ちょうわが形かたちになった芸術げいじゅつの極きわみとも言いえます。
The design of the Japanese garden can be described as the height of artistry, where harmony between nature and humans takes form.
⇒ This describes the high level of artistic completion with objective admiration.

Summary

	Meaning	Commonly Used Words	Characteristics
〜の極きわみ	Expresses that something has reached the highest or ultimate state	幸しあわせ (Happiness), 感動かんどう (emotion), 贅沢ぜいたく (luxury), 美び (beauty), 苦くるしみ (suffering), 不幸ふこう (misfortune), 痛恨つうこん (deep regret), etc.	・Can be used broadly for both positive and negative meanings ・Often used to evaluate the level of perfection in fields such as art and technique
〜の至いたり	Expresses that one’s emotional or mental state has reached its highest point	光栄こうえい (Honor), 感激かんげき (deep emotion), 恐縮きょうしゅく (humility), 赤面せきめん (embarrassment) , 無念むねん (regret), etc.	・Used to express abstract and internal emotions ・Often used when the speaker humbly expresses their own feelings ・Commonly used with set phrases in formal situations

Similer Articles

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