To the utmost (之极/之至/至极)

Structure Adjective + 之极 / 之至 ·（or）adjective + 至极

之极, 之至 and 至极 are learned degree complements that go AFTER an adjective to push it to the extreme: "utterly…", "to the highest degree". 美丽之极 = "of extreme beauty"; 感激之至 = "deeply grateful"; 荒唐至极 = "the height of absurdity". 之至 leans formal and polite (感激之至, 荣幸之至); 至极 often colours the negative (荒唐至极, 无聊至极). It contrasts with 之大/之高, which nominalize a NOUN's magnitude: here you CAP an ADJECTIVE. It is the other end of the cultured degree axis, absent from HSK 1-5.

Examples

这zhè处chù风fēng景jǐng美měi丽lì之zhī极jí，令lìng人rén流liú连lián忘wàng返fǎn。
This scenery is of extreme beauty; one is loath to leave.
承chéng蒙méng关guān照zhào，感gǎn激jī之zhī至zhì。
I am deeply grateful for your kindness.
他tā的de言yán论lùn荒huāng唐táng至zhì极jí。
His remarks are the height of absurdity.
独dú自zì守shǒu着zhe空kōng房fáng，寂jì寞mò之zhī至zhì。
Alone keeping the empty house, utterly forlorn.

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