Usage note
极常用来加强程度，表示非常、极其。
jí cháng yòng lái jiā qiáng chéng dù， biǎo shì fēi cháng 、 jí qí。
极 is often used to intensify degree, meaning very or extremely.
Context note
极常出现在极好、极大、极冷这些表达里。
jí cháng chū xiàn zài jí hǎo 、 jí dà 、 jí lěng zhè xiē biǎo dá lǐ。
极 often appears in expressions like extremely good, extremely big, and extremely cold.
5 examples
这里极冷。
zhè lǐ jí lěng。
It is extremely cold here.
这个办法极好。
zhè ge bàn fǎ jí hǎo。
This method is extremely good.
她极喜欢看书。
tā jí xǐ huan kàn shū。
She likes reading extremely much.
他极认真。
tā jí rèn zhēn。
He is extremely serious.
今天极忙。
jīn tiān jí máng。
Today is extremely busy.
5 mini stories
冬天的时候，这里极冷。大家都穿大衣。
dōng tiān de shí hòu， zhè lǐ jí lěng。 dà jiā dōu chuān dà yī。
In winter, it is extremely cold here. Everyone wears coats.
老师说这次表现极好，大家都很开心。
lǎo shī shuō zhè cì biǎo xiàn jí hǎo， dà jiā dōu hěn kāi xīn。
The teacher said this performance was extremely good, and everyone was happy.
他做事极认真，所以进步很快。
tā zuò shì jí rèn zhēn， suǒ yǐ jìn bù hěn kuài。
He is extremely serious about his work, so he improves quickly.
今天极忙，但是我们还是认真学习。
jīn tiān jí máng， dàn shì wǒ men hái shì rèn zhēn xué xí。
Today is extremely busy, but we still study carefully.
这本书极有趣，我一下子就看完了。
zhè běn shū jí yǒu qù， wǒ yí xià zǐ jiù kàn wán le。
This book is extremely interesting, and I finished it in one go.
Mini dialogue
天气极好
A
今天天气极好，我们去放风筝吧。
Jīntiān tiānqì jí hǎo, wǒmen qù fàng fēngzheng ba.
The weather is extremely good today, let's go fly a kite.
B
好主意，风也极舒服。
Hǎo zhǔyì, fēng yě jí shūfu.
Good idea, the wind is also extremely comfortable.
极快
A
这只小狗跑得极快。
Zhè zhī xiǎo gǒu pǎo de jí kuài.
This puppy runs extremely fast.
B
是啊，我极喜欢它。
Shì a, wǒ jí xǐhuān tā.
Yes, I like it extremely much.
Related words and contrasts
similar
非常
fēicháng
very
非常 is a common way to say 'very', while 极 is stronger and more formal.
similar
特别
tèbié
especially
特别 means 'especially' and can be used like 极 to show a high degree.