あくまで

あ

く

ま

で

JLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

adverb

to the end; persistently; stubbornly

usually written using kana alone

Used when someone does something all the way, without giving up, or insists on something strongly. Often implies determination or stubbornness.

彼かれはあくまで自じ分ぶんの意い見けんを主しゅ張ちょうした。
He stubbornly insisted on his own opinion.

あくまで戦たたかい抜ぬく覚かく悟ごだ。

I'm prepared to fight to the bitter end.

2

adverb

after all; simply; purely

usually written using kana alone

Used to emphasize that something is just as stated, without exaggeration or hidden meaning. Often softens a statement or clarifies a point.

あくまで個こ人じん的てきな意い見けんですが、この計けい画かくは難むずかしいと思おもいます。
This is just my personal opinion, but I think this plan is difficult.
あくまで参さん考こうとして聞きいてください。
Please take it purely as a reference.

Written forms

あくまでUsage99%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
飽あくまでUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
飽あく迄までUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form with ateji; learners should use the kana spelling.

Kanji

飽sated, tired of, bored
迄until, up to, as far as

Similar words

とことん
とことん also means 'to the end' but is more colloquial and often used in phrases like とことんやる (do something thoroughly). あくまで can imply stubbornness or a clarifying 'just' nuance.
あくまでも
あくまでも is a more emphatic form of あくまで, often used in the same contexts but with stronger insistence or clarification.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 飽く (aku, 'to tire of') + まで (made, 'until'), literally 'until one tires of it', implying doing something to the very end. The kanji forms are rarely used in modern Japanese.