(jǐn liàng) - as far as possible, as much as one can in Mandarin
jǐnliàngTraditional: 儘量
Translation
as far as possible, as much as one can
Word origin
A compound of 尽 (jǐn, to the greatest extent) and 量 (liàng, amount, measure), so up to the full amount.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 尽 (jǐn, to the utmost) + 量 (liàng, amount)
Stroke order
尽
量
Examples
。
I will get back as early as I can.
。
Please talk as little as possible.
。
We will help you as much as we can.
。
Try your best not to let him find out.
，。
The weather is bad, so stay at home if you can.
尽量 (jǐnliàng) goes in front of the verb and softens a promise into a best effort: I will do X as far as I can. It is the polite hedge Chinese speakers reach for when they will not commit outright.
It sits before the whole verb phrase, including any negative: 尽量别迟到 (jǐnliàng bié chídào, try not to be late), not the other way round.
Two traps. First, the tone: it is jǐn (third tone), not jìn, even though the simplified character 尽 also reads jìn in 尽力 (jìnlì, to do one's utmost). Second, do not confuse it with 尽管 (jǐnguǎn), which means although or go right ahead.
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尽量: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "尽量" (as far as possible, as much as one can): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 41.