Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 尽量
尽量 (jìnliàng) is an adverb that means as much as possible or to the greatest extent. It is used to indicate that someone is trying their best to do something within their capability or limits.
It usually appears before the verb or verbal phrase it modifies.
POSITIONING OF 尽量 IN SENTENCES
- 尽量 is typically placed:
- Before the main verb (most common).
- Before a negative phrase (to emphasize trying not to do something).
请尽量早到。
Please arrive as early as possible.View More Examples:
| 他尽量完成了所有的任务。 | Tā jìnliàng wánchéngle suǒyǒu de rènwu. | He tried his best to complete all the tasks. |
| 我会尽量帮你解决问题。 | Wǒ huì jìnliàng bāng nǐ jiějué wèntí. | I will do my best to help you solve the problem. |
| 我们要尽量节约用水。 | Wǒmen yào jìnliàng jiéyuē yòng shuǐ. | We should save water as much as possible. |
| 她尽量不打扰别人。 | Tā jìnliàng bù dǎrǎo biérén. | She tries not to disturb others as much as possible. |
| 尽量说慢一点，好吗？ | jìnliàng shuō màn yīdiǎn, hǎo ma? | Please speak as slowly as possible, okay? |
| 孩子们尽量保持安静。 | Háizimen jìnliàng bǎochí ānjìng. | The children tried to stay as quiet as possible. |
| 他尽量避免犯错。 | Tā jìnliàng bìmiǎn fàncuò. | He tried to avoid making mistakes as much as possible. |
- It cannot be used with modal verbs like 能 (néng) or 可以 (kěyǐ).
- 尽量 (jìnliàng) expresses the meaning of putting in effort to achieve something to the best of one’s ability, which inherently implies personal action or attempt. Modal verbs like 能 (néng, can) or 可以 (kěyǐ, may/can) express permission or capability, which are conditions rather than actions that involve effort.
- If 尽量 were combined with these modal verbs, it could create redundancy or semantic conflict. Hence, they are typically not used together.
尽量减少浪费资源。
Try to reduce the waste of resources as much as possible.View More Examples:
| 他尽量多学习中文。 | Tā jìnliàng duō xuéxí Zhōngwén. | He is trying to learn as much Chinese as possible. |
| 请尽量避免迟到。 | Qǐng jìnliàng bìmiǎn chídào. | Please try to avoid being late as much as possible. |
| 我尽量不浪费时间。 | Wǒ jìnliàng bù làngfèi shíjiān. | I try not to waste time as much as possible. |
| 她尽量少用塑料袋。 | Tā jìnliàng shǎo yòng sùliào dài. | She tries to use fewer plastic bags as much as possible. |
| 我们应该尽量吃完饭。 | Wǒmen yīnggāi jìnliàng chī wán fàn. | We should finish our food as much as possible. |
| 你尽量不打扰他工作吧。 | Nǐ jìnliàng bù dǎrǎo tā gōngzuò ba. | Try not to disturb him at work as much as possible. |
| 孩子们尽量保持安静，老师正在上课。 | Háizimen jìnliàng bǎochí ānjìng, lǎoshī zhèngzài shàngkè. | The children tried to stay quiet as much as possible while the teacher was teaching. |
COMMON COLLOCATIONS
- 尽量 often pairs with verbs like:
- 减少 (jiǎnshǎo, reduce)
- 避免 (bìmiǎn, avoid)
- 保持 (bǎochí, maintain)
- 完成 (wánchéng, complete)
- It emphasizes effort or the attempt, not the guaranteed result.
我们尽量减少浪费。
We try to minimize waste as much as possible.View More Examples:
| 司机应该尽量遵守交通规则。 | Sījī yīnggāi jìnliàng zūnshǒu jiāotōng guīzé. | Drivers should try to follow traffic rules as much as possible. |
| 他们尽量多种树。 | Tāmen jìnliàng duō zhòng shù. | They try to plant as many trees as possible. |
| 请尽量用环保产品。 | Qǐng jìnliàng yòng huánbǎo chǎnpǐn. | Please try to use eco-friendly products as much as possible. |
| 他尽量回答每一个问题。 | Tā jìnliàng huídá měi yī gè wèntí. | He tries to answer every question as much as possible. |
| 她尽量照顾每个人的感受。 | Tā jìnliàng zhàogù měi gèrén de gǎnshòu. | She tries to take everyone’s feelings into account as much as possible. |
| 我会尽量完成工作。 | Wǒ huì jìnliàng wánchéng gōngzuò. | I will try to finish the work as much as possible. |
| 老师尽量用简单的词解释。 | Lǎoshī jìnliàng yòng jiǎndān de cí jiěshì. | The teacher tries to explain using simple words as much as possible. |
尽量 IN NEGATIVE CONTEXTS
- 尽量 can also indicate restraint, such as trying not to do something.
- It pairs well with verbs like 避免 (bìmiǎn, avoid) or 不要 (bùyào, don’t).
请尽量不要打扰别人。
Please try not to disturb others as much as possible.View More Examples:
| 他尽量避免犯错。 | Tā jìnliàng bìmiǎn fàncuò. | He tries to avoid making mistakes as much as possible. |
| 我们尽量不要浪费资源。 | Wǒmen jìnliàng bùyào làngfèi zīyuán. | We try not to waste resources as much as possible. |
| 你尽量别熬夜，好吗？ | Nǐ jìnliàng bié áoyè, hǎo ma? | Try not to stay up late, okay? |
| 孩子们尽量不吵闹。 | Háizimen jìnliàng bù chǎonào. | The children try not to make noise as much as possible. |
| 他尽量不吃垃圾食品。 | Tā jìnliàng bù chī lājī shípǐn. | He tries not to eat junk food as much as possible. |
| 我们尽量少用电。 | Wǒmen jìnliàng shǎo yòng diàn. | We try to use less electricity as much as possible. |
| 她尽量避免和别人发生冲突。 | Tā jìnliàng bìmiǎn hé biérén fāshēng chōngtú. | She tries to avoid conflicts with others as much as possible. |
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS TO 尽量
While 尽量 is a versatile and widely used word for as much as possible or or the best of one’s ability, understanding other expressions with similar meanings can help us deepen our understanding of 尽量.
In this chapter, we’ll explore these related expressions and how they compare to 尽量.
1. 尽可能
- Meaning: As much as possible or as far as possible.
- Nuance: Similar to 尽量, but it emphasises the possibility of doing something rather than the effort involved. It often implies working within constraints.
| 请尽可能快点完成这个任务。 | Qǐng jìn kěnéng kuài diǎn wánchéng zhège rènwù. | Please complete this task as quickly as possible. |
| 我会尽可能帮你解决问题。 | Wǒ huì jìn kěnéng bāng nǐ jiějué wèntí. | I’ll help you solve the problem as much as I can. |
2. 努力
- Meaning: To strive or to work hard.
- Nuance: Unlike 尽量, which emphasises the extent of effort, 努力 focuses on the act of making an effort itself.
| 我会努力学好法语。 | Wǒ huì nǔlì xuéhǎo Fǎyǔ. | I will work hard to learn French well. |
| 他一直在努力完成他的梦想。 | Tā yīzhí zài nǔlì wánchéng tā de mèngxiǎng. | He has always been striving to achieve his dream. |
3. 尽力 (jìnlì)
- Meaning: To try one’s best.
- Nuance: Nearly synonymous with 尽量, but 尽力 is often used to emphasise the act of trying with all available strength. It’s also less commonly used than 尽量 and more commonly used in written Chinese than in spoken Chinese.
| 我会尽力帮助你。 | Wǒ huì jìnlì bāngzhù nǐ. | I will try my best to help you. |
| 他尽力完成了这个任务。 | Tā jìnlì wánchéngle zhège rènwù. | He tried his best to finish this task. |
SUMMARY TABLE
| Expression | Pinyin | Meaning | Usage Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 尽量 | jìnliàng | As much as possible | Focuses on maximizing effort to achieve something |
| 尽可能 | jìn kěnéng | As far as possible | Emphasizes possibility within constraints |
| 努力 | nǔlì | To strive | Focuses on making effort itself |
| 尽力 | jìnlì | To try one’s best | Highlights putting in available strength |
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FAQs
What does 尽量 mean in Chinese?
尽量 (jǐnliàng) means “as much as possible” or “to the greatest extent.”
It is used to indicate making the best effort to do something.
Can 尽量 be used as positive and negative?
Yes, 尽量 can be used in both cases.
For example, in a positive sentence: 你尽量多吃点 (“Eat as much as possible”).
In a negative sentence: 尽量不要迟到 (“Try not to be late”).
What is the difference with 尽量 and 尽可能?
尽量 focuses more on making an effort within one’s ability.
尽可能 emphasizes doing something to the greatest possible extent without limitations.
Can 尽量 be used to give suggestions or advice?
Yes, 尽量 is often used to make polite suggestions, such as 请大家尽量提前到场 (“Please try to arrive early”).
Is 尽量 used in formal or informal situations?
尽量 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
It appears in everyday speech, workplace communication, and official instructions.
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