恐きょう悦えつ至し極ごく

きょ

う

え

つ

し

ご

く

Meanings

na-adjective, noun

extremely delighted; most humbly pleased

humble (kenjougo)yojijukugo (four-character idiom)

A very formal, humble expression used to convey deep gratitude and delight, often in highly polite or ceremonial contexts. Typical of yojijukugo and kenjōgo.

ご招しょう待たいいただき、恐きょう悦えつ至し極ごくに存ぞんじます。
I am most humbly delighted to receive your invitation.
このようなお心こころ遣づかいを賜たまわり、恐きょう悦えつ至し極ごくでございます。
I am extremely grateful and honored by your kind consideration.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Kanji

恐fear, dread, awe
悦ecstasy, joy, rapture
至climax, arrive, proceed
極extreme, pole, extremely
恭respect, reverent

Related words

光こう栄えい
光栄 is a more common and less formal word for 'honor' or 'privilege', while 恐悦至極 is a very formal, humble, and somewhat archaic expression of extreme delight.
恐きょう縮しゅく
恐縮 expresses a feeling of being indebted or sorry for causing trouble, often used in apologies or thanks, whereas 恐悦至極 focuses on extreme delight and gratitude.

Built from

恐きょう悦えつ+至し極ごく

Written forms

恐きょう悦えつ至し極ごく
Standard kanji spelling for this yojijukugo.
恭きょう悦えつ至し極ごく
Variant kanji spelling using 恭 instead of 恐; less common.

Etymology

A yojijukugo combining 恐悦 (humble joy) and 至極 (extreme). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a set phrase used in very formal, humble contexts.