N1 Degree and Emphasis

~きっての: meaning, usage and examples

~きっての means: the best... / the... -est (in a group).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれは、この学校がっこうきっての秀才しゅうさいだ。

   He is the top student in this school.

2. 彼女かのじょは、一座いちざきっての美人びじんと評判ひょうばんだ。

   She is known as the most beautiful woman in the troupe.

3. ここは、県内けんないきっての老舗しにせ旅館りょかんとして知しられている。

   This is known as the most distinguished long-established inn in the prefecture.

4. 鈴木すずきさんは、社内しゃないきっての読書どくしょ家かだ。

   Ms. Suzuki reads more than anyone else in the company.

When to use it

Says someone or something is the best or most notable in a place or group: 町まちきっての名医めいい (the finest doctor in town). The first noun is a place or organization (学校がっこう, 社内しゃない, 県内けんない, 日本にほん), and the second names the person or thing praised. Example: 彼女かのじょは社内しゃないきっての努力どりょく家かだ.

Nuance

Written and formal, used for praise in articles, introductions and speeches. Always positive. It names one standout in a group and cannot end a sentence on its own; it must modify a following noun.

Compare

～一いちの is plain: 日本一にほんいちの山やま. ～随一ずいいちの is very close and also formal: 県内けんない随一ずいいちの名所めいしょ. ～きっての is especially common for people and their skills: 球界きゅうかいきっての強打者きょうだしゃ. 最もっとも is the neutral superlative: 最もっとも優秀ゆうしゅうな学生がくせい.

Tip: The pattern is always Group + きっての + praised person or thing. Never put an adjective right after きっての.