極: the kanji for extreme; pole
極 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means extreme; pole. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
極 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
極 has 5 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
キョク (kyoku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 北極ほっきょく · hokkyoku | the North Pole; the Arctic |
| 南極なんきょく · nankyoku | the South Pole; Antarctica |
| 積極的せっきょくてき · sekkyokuteki | active; positive |
ゴク (goku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 極楽ごくらく · gokuraku | paradise |
きわめる (kiwameru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 極めるきわめる · kiwameru | to master; to carry to the extreme |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 北極の氷が溶けている。Hokkyoku no kōri ga tokete iru.The Arctic ice is melting.
- 彼女は何でも積極的にやる。Kanojo wa nandemo sekkyokuteki ni yaru.She does everything with enthusiasm.
- 温泉に入ると極楽のようだ。Onsen ni hairu to gokuraku no yō da.Getting into a hot spring feels like paradise.
- この道を極めるには時間がかかる。Kono michi o kiwameru ni wa jikan ga kakaru.It takes time to master this field.
- 南極には多くのペンギンがいる。Nankyoku ni wa ōku no pengin ga iru.There are many penguins in Antarctica.
Questions about 極
How many strokes does 極 have?
極 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 極?
The on readings are kyoku (キョク), goku (ゴク). The kun readings are kiwameru (きわめる), kiwamaru (きわまる), kiwami (きわみ).
What JLPT level is 極?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Qualities and conditions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 極
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.