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Kotomora

极

extreme, utmost, furthest, final

Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • キョウ
  • ゴウ

Kun'yomi

  • にぐら

Meaning

极 centers on reaching the farthest point or limit: the extreme, the utmost, the furthest, or the final stage. All given meanings are natural applications of this idea of an endpoint.

Study

Etymology

极 combines 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of reaching or extending. The compound suggests a wooden beam or pole reaching to an extreme point, though the exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

A wooden beam (木) reaching (及) as far as possible: the extreme end of a pole. Picture a long wooden pole extending to the furthest point.

Reading mnemonic

For キョウ, imagine a wooden beam reaching the extreme edge of a kyō (today, 今日) sunset: kyō -> キョウ, and the pole stretches to the utmost limit.