• 南極なんきょく — South Pole
• 北極ほっきょく — North Pole
• 極端きょくたん — extreme / radical
• 極めるきわめる — to master / to go to extremes
• 消極的しょうきょくてき — passive / negative / unmotivated

The character 極 combines 木 (tree) and 音符 僅 (from 亟) to express “reaching the highest point.” It represents pushing things to their furthest point, whether physically (like the poles of the Earth) or metaphorically (like mastering a skill).

彼かれは 武道ぶどうの技わざを極きわめた。
He mastered the techniques of martial arts.

南極なんきょくへの探検たんけんは 危険きけんだが魅力みりょくもある。
Exploring the South Pole is dangerous, but also fascinating.

🎧 The readings キョク and ゴク appear in compound words, especially when describing poles, limits, or extremities. The kun readings きわめる, きわまる, and きわみ are used to express pushing something to the utmost or reaching the peak.