極める

• 読み: きわめる
• ローマ字: kiwameru
• 漢字の分解: 極 (kyoku) — extreme, utmost, pole, summit
• 発音: /ki.wa.me.ɾɯ/

意味

To reach the utmost point of; to master to the highest degree; to investigate thoroughly; to push something to its absolute limit.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb from 極 (extreme, summit). Used to describe mastering a discipline at the highest level (道を極める — to master one's path or art), reaching the pinnacle of excess or luxury (贅を極める — to go to the utmost excess), or conducting the most thorough possible investigation (真相を極める — to examine the truth to the bottom). The noun 極み (kiwami) means the utmost and appears in formal set expressions.

例文

1. 師は生涯をかけて書の道を極め、後世に多くの作品を遺した。
2. 贅を極めた晩餐会が開かれ、各国の首脳が一堂に会した。
3. その分野を本当に極めるには、才能だけでなく圧倒的な努力量が必要だ。

使い方ガイド

場面: mastery, arts, martial arts, formal writing, luxury

トーン: serious

起源と歴史

From the kanji 極 (kyoku/kiwamu), meaning extreme, ultimate, the furthest point. The verb form 極める means to reach or push to that furthest point, whether in mastery, excess, or investigation.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: All classes