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〜ことこの上ない

nothing could be more, extremely

い-adj / な-adj + な + ことこの上ない

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ことこの上ない means "nothing is above this", so "as … as it could possibly be": 山の上から見る夕日は美しいことこの上ない, "the sunset from the mountaintop is as beautiful as it gets".

It follows an adjective: い-adjectives directly (美しい, 嬉しい), and な-adjectives with な (危険な, 退屈な). It works for positive and negative feelings.

It's formal and written, and it sounds more measured than 極まりない. You can also use この上ない as an adjective before a noun: この上ない喜び, "the greatest joy".

Don't confuse it with ことはない (N3), "there's no need to".

Examples

  • 彼かれの説明せつめいは分わかりにくいことこの上うえない。

    His explanation couldn't be harder to follow.

  • 山やまの上うえから見みる夕日ゆうひは美うつくしいことこの上うえない。

    The sunset from the mountaintop is as beautiful as it gets.

  • 夜道よみちを一人ひとりで歩あるくのは危険きけんなことこの上うえない。

    Walking alone at night couldn't be more dangerous.

  • 毎日同まいにちおなじ作業さぎょうばかりで、退屈たいくつなことこの上うえない。

    Doing the same work every day is as boring as it gets.

  • 優勝ゆうしょうできて、嬉うれしいことこの上うえない。

    I couldn't be happier that we won.

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