Meaning
极其 is a formal adverb meaning 'extremely' or 'exceedingly.' It intensifies adjectives and verbs to convey a very high degree of something. This expression is commonly used in written Chinese and formal speech to emphasize the intensity or extent of a quality or action.
Usage
极其 is more formal than everyday intensifiers like 非常 (fēicháng) or 很 (hěn). It appears frequently in news reports, academic writing, and formal contexts. Native speakers use it to add weight and seriousness to descriptions, often with adjectives expressing importance, difficulty, or extremity.
Examples
- 01这个问题极其复杂，需要仔细研究。, .This problem is extremely complex and requires careful study.
- 02他的工作态度极其认真负责。.His work attitude is extremely conscientious and responsible.
Characters
Common collocations
- 极其重要extremely important
- 极其困难extremely difficult
- 极其复杂extremely complex
- 极其罕见extremely rare
Origin
极 originally meant 'ridgepole' or 'highest point,' extended to mean 'extreme.' Combined with 其 (a classical possessive/demonstrative pronoun), 极其 literally suggests 'reaching its extreme,' creating an intensifying adverb.