How to use 尽量
尽量 + Verb Phrase / Description
尽量 says to pursue an action or quality as fully as circumstances allow. It can express a promise to try, a request for effort, or a practical limit on what can be achieved. Put it before the action or description it qualifies. The expression sets an intention toward the best feasible result without guaranteeing complete success.
尽量 can also precede a negative phrase, meaning that the speaker will try to avoid the action as far as possible. With 多 or 少, it can maximize or minimize an amount or frequency. Learn the pronunciation jǐnliàng for this adverbial use. The measure of possibility comes from the situation, so context determines how much effort or extent is realistic.
Examples with pinyin and English
我会尽量想办法帮你的。
I will try my best to figure out something to help you.
我会把我知道的尽量告诉你。
I'll do my best to tell you everything I know.
你看书吧，我尽量不打扰你。
Go ahead and study, I'll do my best to not disturb you.
你是哥哥，要尽量照顾好妹妹。
You are the big brother and you should try your best to look after your little sister.
What to remember
- 尽量 expresses feasible effort, not a guaranteed result.
- It can precede a negative phrase.
- Read the adverb as jǐnliàng.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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