Japanese word

極端

Pronunciation

Romajikyokutan

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveextreme

Example

その考えは少し極端です。so no kanga e wa suko shi kyoku tan de su

That idea is a little extreme.

Illustration for 極端 (extreme)

More examples

物事を極端に考えないことが大切です。mono goto o kyoku tan ni kanga e na i ko to ga tai setsu de su

It is important not to think in extreme terms.

Core concept

Describes something that lies at the far end of a scale, well outside what is ordinary or balanced.

Common phrases

  • 極端な意見kyoku tan na i ken

    extreme opinion

  • 極端な例kyoku tan na rei

    extreme example

  • 極端に考えるkyoku tan ni kanga e ru

    think in extreme terms

Similar words

過激kageki: Describes an idea, action, or opinion that is unusually strong and goes beyond accepted limits.
過度kado: Describes an amount or degree that is greater than what is suitable or needed.
極度kyokudo: Describes a very high degree of a condition or feeling.

Definition in Japanese

程度や性質が普通の範囲から大きく外れているさま。tei do ya sei shitsu ga fu tsū no han i ka ra ō ki ku hazu re te i ru sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 極端 (kyokutan) combines 極 (kyoku, "utmost") and 端 (tan, "edge"), giving the sense of reaching an outer limit.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 極端な話 (kyokutan na hanashi) introduces a deliberately far-fetched case used to make an argument easier to consider.

Opposites

  • 穏当ontōmoderatena-adjective
  • 中庸chūyōmoderationnoun

Related words

  • 極端さkyokutansaextremenessnoun

Word lists with this word