尽量 + Verb (as much as possible) · 尽量 + Verbe (autant que possible)
You hope to arrive early, but the bus may be late
- A friend asks for an early arrival. You say 我会尽量早点来。 — “I will try to come as early as possible.” You express an effort within practical limits.
- Compare 我一定八点到 — “I will definitely arrive at eight.” 尽量 by itself does not guarantee the exact outcome.
You hope to arrive early, but the bus may be late
- A friend asks for an early arrival. You say 我会as far as feasible; try to尽量breakfast早点to come来。 — “I will try to come as early as possible.” You express an effort within practical limits.
- Compare I / me我definitely一定八点to / arrive到 — “I will definitely arrive at eight.” as far as feasible; try to尽量 by itself does not guarantee the exact outcome.
Put the effort modifier before the action
- Use subject + 尽量 + action or limit: 你尽量早点来 / 我会尽量帮你。 The speaker tries to do what is feasible.
- 尽量 can also limit an unwanted action: 尽量别在晚上喝咖啡。 — “Try not to drink coffee at night.” It does not always mean doing more of an activity.
you你as much as possible尽量early早a bit点come来。
Put the effort modifier before the action
- Use subject + as far as feasible; try to尽量 + action or limit: you你as far as feasible; try to尽量breakfast早点to come来 / 我会as far as feasible; try to尽量to help帮you你。 The speaker tries to do what is feasible.
- as far as feasible; try to尽量 can also limit an unwanted action: as far as feasible; try to尽量don't别at / in在evening晚上喝咖啡。 — “Try not to drink coffee at night.” It does not always mean doing more of an activity.
you你as much as possible尽量early早a bit点come来。
你____早点来。
尽量 expresses an effort toward early arrival.
Distinguish effort from a guarantee
- 我会尽量早点来 reports an intention to try. If the bus is late, the outcome may still be late even when the speaker made a real effort.
- If a precise time is essential, state the deadline and discuss whether it is realistic. A hopeful modifier is not a substitute for the actual scheduling information.
Distinguish effort from a guarantee
- 我会as far as feasible; try to尽量breakfast早点to come来 reports an intention to try. If the bus is late, the outcome may still be late even when the speaker made a real effort.
- If a precise time is essential, state the deadline and discuss whether it is realistic. A hopeful modifier is not a substitute for the actual scheduling information.
尽量少用手机 asks the listener to…
少 defines the reduction being attempted.
Contrast 尽量 with permission-giving 尽管
- 尽量早点来 asks for an effort toward an earlier arrival. 有问题尽管问 gives permission or encouragement to ask freely.
- The similar first character does not make the expressions synonyms. Decide whether the speaker asks for feasible effort or removes hesitation about an action.
Contrast as far as feasible; try to尽量 with permission-giving ask freely / despite, according to context尽管
- as far as feasible; try to尽量breakfast早点to come来 asks for an effort toward an earlier arrival. to have / there is有question问题ask freely / despite, according to context尽管to ask问 gives permission or encouragement to ask freely.
- The similar first character does not make the expressions synonyms. Decide whether the speaker asks for feasible effort or removes hesitation about an action.
Effort or certainty?
Distinguish contextual meanings and the limits of what each example states.
尽量 by itself guarantees the stated outcome.
Practical limits may prevent the intended outcome.
Match each example to its meaning.
Read the full phrase and context.
Read what is being increased or reduced
- 上课时尽量用汉语交流 asks learners to use Chinese as much as feasible. 尽量少用手机 asks them to reduce phone use as far as feasible.
- Identify the whole modified phrase, including 早、少 or 别. Translating only 尽量 as “more” can reverse the intended advice.
Read what is being increased or reduced
- 上课时as far as feasible; try to尽量to use / with用Chinese language汉语to exchange交流 asks learners to use Chinese as much as feasible. 尽量少to use / with用cell phone手机 asks them to reduce phone use as far as feasible.
- Identify the whole modified phrase, including early早、young少 or don't别. Translating only as far as feasible; try to尽量 as “more” can reverse the intended advice.
尽量别在晚上喝咖啡 asks for drinking more coffee at night.
别 supplies the intended avoidance.
Which asks for feasible effort rather than permission?
尽量 modifies the effort toward earlier arrival.
Make a realistic effort statement
- To offer help without guaranteeing success, say 我会尽量帮你。 Give the listener any important limits separately.
- In a new example, identify the attempted action and whether its outcome is certain. 尽量 expresses feasible effort, not proof that the action succeeded.
尽量 asks for or offers an effort within limits. It can increase a useful action or reduce an unwanted one; read the whole phrase and distinguish effort from certainty.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Adverbs.
Make a realistic effort statement
- To offer help without guaranteeing success, say 我会as far as feasible; try to尽量to help帮you你。 Give the listener any important limits separately.
- In a new example, identify the attempted action and whether its outcome is certain. as far as feasible; try to尽量 expresses feasible effort, not proof that the action succeeded.
as far as feasible; try to尽量 asks for or offers an effort within limits. It can increase a useful action or reduce an unwanted one; read the whole phrase and distinguish effort from certainty.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Adverbs.
The bus is late after the speaker tried to arrive early. Does that alone disprove the effort?
The outcome alone does not establish whether an effort was made.
A precise meeting time should be stated separately if it is essential.
An effort modifier does not supply a deadline or guarantee.