あくまでも

あ

く

ま

で

も

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

adverb

to the end; persistently; stubbornly; consistently

usually written using kana alone

Emphasizes doing something all the way, without giving up, or maintaining a stance firmly. Often used with verbs of assertion, refusal, or effort.

彼かれはあくまでも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.

あくまでも最さい後ごまで戦たたかうつもりだ。

I intend to fight to the bitter end.

2

adverb

after all; simply; purely; only

usually written using kana alone

Used to emphasize that something is fundamentally or essentially the case, often to clarify a point or set a limit. Common in phrases like あくまでも～にすぎない (it is merely ...).

これはあくまでも私わたしの個こ人じん的てきな意い見けんです。
This is, after all, just my personal opinion.
あくまでも可か能のう性せいの一ひとつにすぎない。
It is merely one possibility.

Usage patterns

あくまでも〈事こと〉にすぎないit is merely ...; nothing more than ...
これはあくまでも私わたしの意い見けんにすぎない。
This is merely my opinion, nothing more.
あくまでも〈事こと〉を主しゅ張ちょうするto insist firmly on ...
彼かれはあくまでも自じ分ぶんの考かんがえを主しゅ張ちょうした。
He stubbornly insisted on his own idea.
あくまでも〈事こと〉としてstrictly as ...; purely as ...
これはあくまでも参さん考こうとして使つかってください。
Please use this strictly as a reference.

Kanji

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

Related words

とことん sense 1
とことん is a colloquial word for doing something thoroughly or to the extreme, while あくまでも stresses a persistent, unwavering stance and sounds a bit more formal.
どこまでも sense 1
どこまでも literally means 'no matter how far' and often describes spatial or figurative extent, whereas あくまでも focuses on maintaining a firm position or essential quality.
単たんにN3sense 2
単に is a neutral way to say 'simply', while あくまでも adds emphasis that something is strictly or purely the case, often to set a limit.
ただN3sense 2
ただ is a plain, everyday way to say 'just/only', whereas あくまでも carries a more insistent, definitive tone when limiting a statement.
あくまでN2
あくまでも is a slightly more emphatic version of あくまで, used interchangeably but with stronger insistence.

Written forms

Applies to each form listed below

rarely-used kanji form

飽あくまでも
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
飽あく迄までも
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.

Etymology

From 飽く, “be fully satisfied,” plus まで, “to the point of,” and emphatic も. The idea “to satiety” developed into “thoroughly; persistently; to the end.”