とびきり

と

び

き

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun

best; finest; top-notch

usually written using kana alone

Used as a no-adjective or noun to describe something of the highest quality or degree. Often appears in phrases like とびきりの品 or とびきりの笑顔.

この店みせのケーキはとびきりだ。
The cakes at this shop are the best.
彼かの女じょはとびきりの笑え顔がおで迎むかえてくれた。
She greeted me with a brilliant smile.

2

exceptionally; extraordinarily; by far

usually written using kana alone

Adverbial use meaning 'to an exceptional degree', often modifying adjectives or verbs. Can also be used as a noun with の to modify another noun.

今日きょうはとびきり暑あつい。
It's exceptionally hot today.
彼かれはとびきり上手じょうずな料りょう理り人にんだ。
He is an extraordinarily skilled chef.

3

jumping and slashing

Original literal meaning, now rare. Refers to a leaping attack with a blade. Mostly encountered in historical or martial contexts.

古ふるい剣けん術じゅつ書しょには飛とび切きりという技わざが記しるされている。
Old swordsmanship manuals describe a technique called 'tobikiri' (jumping slash).

See all 9 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

とびきりの〈物もの〉an exceptionally fine ~; a top-notch ~
彼かの女じょはとびきりの笑え顔がおで私わたしたちを迎むかえてくれた。
She greeted us with an exceptionally bright smile.
とびきり〈形けい容よう詞し〉exceptionally ~ (modifying an adjective)
今日きょうはとびきり寒さむい一いち日にちだった。
Today was an exceptionally cold day.
とびきり〈動どう詞し〉to do ~ to an exceptional degree
このお店みせのケーキはとびきりおいしいと評ひょう判ばんだ。
This shop's cake has a reputation for being extraordinarily delicious.

Kanji

飛fly, skip (pages), scatter
切cut, cutoff, be sharp

Related words

最さい高こうN3sense 1
最高 is the plain, everyday word for 'the best', while とびきり adds an emotive sense of being exceptionally standout, not just top-ranked.
抜ばつ群ぐんN1sense 1
抜群 describes something markedly superior to others in the same category, whereas とびきり can also work adverbially to mean 'exceptionally' before an adjective.
極ごく上じょう sense 1
極上 is a formal, often commercial term for 'top-grade' (as in goods or food), while とびきり is more casual and can describe people or feelings too.

Opposites

平へい凡ぼんN2sense 1
平凡 means 'ordinary' or 'unremarkable', the opposite of とびきり's sense of being exceptionally outstanding.

Built from

飛とぶ+切きる

Written forms

とびきりUsage86%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 飛び切り is also common.
飛とび切きりUsage13%
Standard kanji form; the kana spelling is more frequent in modern usage.
飛とび切きりUsage1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not a standard spelling.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 飛び切る (とびきる), meaning 'to jump and cut'. The original literal sense of a leaping slash extended metaphorically to mean 'surpassing others' or 'exceptional'.