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最

utmost
Stroke count: 12

Readings

On readingサイ、シュ
Kun readingもっと.も、つま
JLPT level: N3JōyōGrade 4

Meanings

  1. utmostRtK
  2. extreme
  3. most
    教育は生活において最も必要不可欠な要素の一つ。Education is one of the most essential aspects of life.tatoeba
    彼は彼の機会を最大限利用した。He made the most of his opportunity.tatoeba
  1. extremely

Popular Usage

最近最後最初最高最終最中最低

Radicals and components

Radical曰say
Components
How it's built
最
  • →
  • →
    • →
    • →

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

sun (日) · day (日) · take · ear (耳) · crotch

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 884

Compound words

最近さいきん
recently; lately; these days; nowadays; right now
最後さいご
end; conclusion; last; final; latest
最初さいしょ
beginning; outset; first; onset
最高さいこう
best; supreme; wonderful; finest; highest
最終さいしゅう
last; final; closing; last train (bus, flight, etc.; of the day)
最低さいてい
least; lowest; minimum; worst; awful
最中さいちゅう
(in) the middle of; (in) the midst of; (in) the course of; (at) the height of
最ももっとも
most; extremely
最愛さいあい
beloved; dearest
最悪さいあく
worst; horrible; horrid; awful; terrible
最期さいご
one's last moment; one's death; one's end
最強さいきょう
strongest
最古さいこ
the oldest; the earliest
最小さいしょう
smallest (in size, degree, etc.); least; minimum; minimal
最少さいしょう
fewest; least; smallest (number); lowest; minimum
最新さいしん
latest; newest; late-breaking (news)
最善さいぜん
the very best; utmost
最早もはや
already; now; no longer; not any more
最大さいだい
biggest; greatest; largest; maximum
最短さいたん
shortest
最適さいてき
most suitable; optimum; optimal; best
最良さいりょう
the best; ideal
最上さいじょう
highest (e.g. floor); top; best; finest; supreme
最下さいか
the lowest; the worst

On Reading Examples

彼は会話の最中に口を挟むことがよくある。さいちゅう
He often breaks into the middle of a conversation.tatoeba
彼はスピーチの最中に気を失った。さいちゅう
He fainted in the midst of his speech.tatoeba
食事の最中に呼び鈴が鳴った。さいちゅう
The doorbell rang during the meal.tatoeba

Kun Reading Examples

歴史上最も偉大な作曲家はベートーヴェンだと思っています。もっとも
I think Beethoven is as great a composer as ever lived.tatoeba
彼らは最もよい作品二つを抜き出した。もっとも
They picked out the best two works.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は彼のライバルが犯す誤りをいつも最大限に利用する。
He always takes advantage of the mistakes made by his rivals.tatoeba
彼は日本の最高の芸術家の１人です。
He is one of the greatest artists in Japan.tatoeba
彼は日本で最も偉大な学者の一人です。
He is one of the greatest scientists in Japan.tatoeba
ごく最近の風潮。
Eel has recently come into use as an osechi dish.wiki
最近3年間の経済状況
Financial situation during the last three yearswiki
最後の太政大臣。
He was the last Dajo Daijn, or Grand Minister of State.wiki
最後の国王である。
He was the last king of the Ryukyu Kingdom.wiki
最初の結婚と離婚
First marriage and divorcewiki
最初の律令法典。
The first Luli law codewiki
三重県の最高峰。
It is the highest peak in Mie Prefecture.wiki
複勝式の最高倍率
The record-high pay-off in place bettingwiki
最終位階は従二位。
His final rank was Junii (Junior Second Rank).wiki
最終官位は従五位下。
His final court rank was Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade).wiki
カッコ内は最低音または基準音。
The lowest tones or reference tones are given in parenthesis.wiki
つぶし島田の一種で髪飾りは最低限。
This hairstyle was a variation of Tsubushi shimada but the ornament was never too much.wiki

Stroke Order

12 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 最

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step