極限|きょくげんkyokugen[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounutmost limits; extremity
2. noun, mathlimit

• Synonym限界げんかいNeutralThe most common word for the limits of ability or physical strength, as in 「限界を感じる」; 「極限」 stresses having reached the most extreme point.
• Synonym限りかぎりNeutralRead 「きり」; means an end, stopping point or limit, as in 「切りがない」, and is also written 「限り」. 「極限」 stresses the extreme point.
• Synonym極点きょくてんWrittenThe peak reached at the very end; also the North and South Poles. A written/formal prose word.
• SynonymリミットNeutralA loanword for a limit or time limit, as in 「タイムリミット」.
• Synonym極端きょくたんNeutralGoing to extremes or leaning toward one side, as in 「極端な意見」; the emphasis is on being skewed to one end.
• Synonym限度げんどNeutralThe set upper bound of what is allowed, as in 「限度額」; the emphasis is on a prescribed limit, not the extreme point.
• Synonym極度きょくどNeutralThe utmost degree, as in 「極度の疲労」; mostly used as a modifier before a noun.
• Synonym際限さいげんNeutralAn end or limit; mostly in the negative 「際限がない」, meaning endless, going on and on.
• Synonym極まりきわまりWrittenThe extreme point or end; mostly in the pattern 「…極まりない」, meaning 'extremely'. A written/formal prose word.
• Synonym果たてはたてWrittenAn archaic, written word for the end or boundary of something; rarely used in modern Japanese.
• Related究極きゅうきょくNeutralThe ultimate or final stage, as in 「究極の選択」; the emphasis is on the final goal rather than an extreme limit.
• Related極致きょくちWrittenThe highest realm one can reach, as in 「美の極致」; written/formal prose, and it can also describe bad things, as in 「愚の極致」.
• Antonym無限むげんNeutralHaving no limits; the direct opposite of 「極限」.
• Antonym底なしそこなしNeutralBottomless, endlessly deep; a colloquial word that stands opposite to 「極限」.

Use 「極限」 for the most extreme point, as in 「極限状態」. For ordinary limits of ability choose 「限界」, for a set upper bound 「限度」, and for the highest realm attained 「極致」; 「無限」 is the opposite. Other words narrow the sense: 「リミット」 for time limits, 「極度」 for utmost degree, 「極端」 for leaning to one extreme, 「究極」 for the final stage.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 物事ものごとの限界げんかいぎりぎりの所ところ。
2. 数列すうれつや関数かんすうの引数ひきすうを特定とくていの値あたいや無限大むげんだいに近ちかづけたとき、その数列すうれつや関数かんすうの振る舞ふるまいを示しめす概念がいねん。