N1 Degree and Emphasis
~の至り: meaning, usage and examples
~の至り means: the height of... / extremely (formal).
How to form it
<Noun> + の至り (set nouns: 光栄 / 恐縮 / 感激 / 赤面 / 汗顔; also 若気の至り)
Examples
このような盛大なパーティーを開いていただき、光栄の至りです。
I am deeply honored that you have held such a grand party for me.
若気の至りで、無茶なことをしてしまった。
I did something reckless in an act of youthful indiscretion.
本日はこのような賞をいただき、感激の至りでございます。
I am deeply moved to receive such an award today.
ご期待に沿えず、誠に恐縮の至りです。
I am truly sorry that I was unable to meet your expectations.
When to use it
A formal way to say a feeling is at its peak, used in greetings, award speeches and business letters: 光栄の至りです (I am deeply honored), 恐縮の至りです (I am truly grateful or sorry). The separate idiom 若気の至り means a youthful mistake. Example: 身に余るお言葉をいただき、光栄の至りです.
Nuance
Very formal, almost ceremonial. Used about the speaker's own feelings, usually humble ones (honor, embarrassment, gratitude). Limited to a small set of nouns; it does not attach freely. 若気の至り is the exception and is used in ordinary speech.
Compare
~の極み also means "the height of" but is wider and often descriptive: 贅沢の極み, 疲労の極み. ~極まりない criticizes: 失礼極まりない. ~の至り is for the speaker's own humble feelings in formal settings. Plain equivalent: 大変光栄です.
Tip: Learn 光栄の至り, 恐縮の至り and 若気の至り as fixed phrases; those three cover almost every test item.
Related points
Similar meaning, often confused
More in Degree and Emphasis
- ~極まりない: extremely... / exceedingly...
- ~ことこの上ない: extremely... / the height of...
- ~の極み: the height of... / the ultimate...
- ~といったらない / ~といったらありゃしない: extremely... / so... (colloquial, often negative)
- ~て敵わない: unbearably... / can't stand...
- ~にもほどがある: too... / ...has its limits / to an unacceptable degree
- ~にも増して: even more than... / above all...
- ~とは比べものにならない: cannot be compared with... / incomparable to...
- ~きっての: the best... / the... -est (in a group)
- ~をおいて他にない: there is no... other than... / ...is the only one
Frequently asked questions
What does ~の至り mean?
The height of... / extremely (formal). Example: このような盛大なパーティーを開いていただき、光栄の至りです。 (I am deeply honored that you have held such a grand party for me.)
How do you form ~の至り?
<Noun> + の至り (set nouns: 光栄 / 恐縮 / 感激 / 赤面 / 汗顔; also 若気の至り). Learn 光栄の至り, 恐縮の至り and 若気の至り as fixed phrases; those three cover almost every test item.