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〜の極み

the height of, the ultimate in

Noun + の極み(だ)

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の極み means "the peak, the ultimate": 贅沢の極みだ, "it's the height of luxury".

It follows a noun and describes a state at its extreme, positive or negative: 贅沢, 疲労 ("exhaustion"), 悲しみ, 無責任, 光栄. It can end a sentence (〜の極みだ), or follow a verb like 達する ("reach").

It's more descriptive and flexible than の至り, which is limited to a few humble set phrases.

Compare 極まりない, which follows な-adjectives and is almost always critical. 極み is also used in marketing: 美の極み, "the ultimate in beauty".

Examples

  • 一流いちりゅうホテルに一いっか月泊げつとまるなんて、贅沢ぜいたくの極きわみだ。

    A month in a top hotel is the height of luxury.

  • 三日間寝みっかかんねずに働はたらいて、疲労ひろうの極きわみに達たっしていた。

    After three days of work without sleep, I'd reached the limit of exhaustion.

  • 友ともを失うしない、彼かれは悲かなしみの極きわみにあった。

    Having lost his friend, he was in the depths of grief.

  • こんな大おおきな賞しょうをいただけるとは、光栄こうえいの極きわみです。

    Receiving such a big award is the greatest honour.

  • 約束やくそくを破やぶって謝あやまりもしないとは、無責任むせきにんの極きわみだ。

    Breaking a promise and not even apologising is the height of irresponsibility.

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