極(きわ)める

きわめる
verb (ichidan)
to master; to reach the extreme
1. to master, to carry to perfection
To pursue something to the highest possible level; to achieve complete mastery of a skill, art, or discipline.
道(みち)を極(きわ)める。
To master one's craft.
彼(かれ)は剣術(けんじゅつ)を極(きわ)めた達人(たつじん)だ。
He is a master who has perfected the art of swordsmanship.
ひとつの分野(ぶんや)を極(きわ)めるには長(なが)い年月(ねんげつ)がかかる。
It takes many years to master a single field.
2. to reach the extreme of, to be extremely
To reach the utmost degree of a state or condition. Often used in the form を極(きわ)める to express reaching the peak of something.
贅沢(ぜいたく)を極(きわ)めた生活(せいかつ)。
A life of extreme luxury.
混乱(こんらん)を極(きわ)めている。
It is in a state of utter chaos.
その宮殿(きゅうでん)は壮麗(そうれい)を極(きわ)め、訪(おとず)れる人(ひと)を圧倒(あっとう)した。
The palace was magnificent to the extreme, overwhelming all who visited.

USAGE:
Sense 1 (to master) takes a direct object with を: 技(わざ)を極(きわ)める (to master a technique). Sense 2 (to reach the extreme) also uses を: 贅沢(ぜいたく)を極(きわ)める (to reach the height of luxury). The pattern 〜を極(きわ)める is characteristic and appears in literary and formal contexts.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 道(みち)を極(きわ)める: to master one's path/craft
  • 贅沢(ぜいたく)を極(きわ)める: to reach the height of luxury
  • 混乱(こんらん)を極(きわ)める: to be in utter chaos
  • 技(わざ)を極(きわ)める: to perfect a technique

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 究(きわ)める: to investigate thoroughly (different kanji, focuses on research/inquiry)
  • 極(きわ)み: the extreme, the peak (noun form)

Related Words

Related: 極(きわ)み
general
Added 2026.2.23 20:46
13000/13139_kiwameru