Definitions

(adverb) extremely; utmost
(noun) pole; endpoint

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character "極" combines the semantic element "木" for wood with the component "亟" which conveys the idea of reaching a point, initially referring to the ridgepole of a house as the highest beam. This concrete meaning broadened to denote physical extremities such as the North and South Poles, and subsequently evolved into an abstract term for the utmost limit or degree, often used as an intensifier. The simplified form "极" replaces "亟" with "及", a component that similarly suggests reaching, thereby retaining the conceptual association with extremes while modifying the character's composition.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

光很美丽。

Jíguāng hěn měilì.

The aurora is very beautiful.

有北熊。

Běijí yǒu běijíxióng.

The North Pole has polar bears.

这个游戏好玩。

Zhège yóuxì jí hǎowán.

This game is extremely fun.

其努力地工作。

Tā jíqí nǔlì de gōngzuò.

He works extremely hard.

是冰冻大陆。

Nánjí shì bīngdòng dàlù.

The South Pole is a frozen continent.

限运动需要勇气。

Jíxiàn yùndòng xūyào yǒngqì.

Extreme sports require courage.

她对音乐其热爱。

Tā duì yīnyuè jíqí rè'ài.

She has an extreme passion for music.

端条件下,实验才能成功。

Zài jíduān tiáojiàn xià, shíyàn cái néng chénggōng.

Under extreme conditions, the experiment can succeed.