尽量: As Much as Possible in Chinese
尽量
尽量 asks or promises that an action be carried out to the greatest practical extent. It stands before the verb phrase and does not guarantee a perfect result. As an adverb it cannot take 了 directly, and it cannot be moved after the action like a result complement. The practical limit comes from the surrounding situation.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 尽量 + Verb phrase
Read the structure
尽量 asks or promises that an action be carried out to the greatest practical extent. It stands before the verb phrase and does not guarantee a perfect result. As an adverb it cannot take 了 directly, and it cannot be moved after the action like a result complement. The practical limit comes from the surrounding situation. Keep the model Subject + 尽量 + Verb phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
我会尽量早点儿来。
I will try to come as early as possible.
Choose the right context
Promise a best effort: 我尽量早点来。 Give a flexible request rather than an absolute order. Encourage maximizing an action within real limits.
请尽量说慢一点儿。
Please try to speak a little more slowly.
Respect the boundary
Do not use it to guarantee completion. Do not attach 了 to 尽量. Do not place it after the verb phrase it modifies.
请说慢尽量一点儿。
(Please speak slow as-much-as-possible a little.)
Repair the pattern
The adverb splits the degree phrase: 尽量 must precede the verb phrase and cannot split 慢一点儿. 了 is attached to the adverb: 尽量 is an adverb and cannot take the aspect particle 了.
请尽量说慢一点儿。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我会尽量早点儿来。
I will try to come as early as possible.
我
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
会
尽量
This part occupies the 尽量 position in the model pattern.
尽量
Verb phrase
This part occupies the Verb phrase position in the model pattern.
早点
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
儿
尽量
This part occupies the 尽量 position in the model pattern.
来
Verb phrase
This part occupies the Verb phrase position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我会尽量早点儿来。
I will try to come as early as possible.
请尽量说慢一点儿。
Please try to speak a little more slowly.
我们要尽量减少浪费。
We should minimize waste as much as possible.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Promise a best effort: 我尽量早点来。
- Give a flexible request rather than an absolute order.
- Encourage maximizing an action within real limits.
Do not use it when
- Do not use it to guarantee completion.
- Do not attach 了 to 尽量.
- Do not place it after the verb phrase it modifies.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
请说慢尽量一点儿。
请尽量说慢一点儿。
The adverb splits the degree phrase
尽量 must precede the verb phrase and cannot split 慢一点儿.
我尽量了早点儿来。
我会尽量早点儿来。
了 is attached to the adverb
尽量 is an adverb and cannot take the aspect particle 了.
请说慢尽量一点儿。
尽量 must precede the verb phrase and cannot split 慢一点儿.
我尽量了早点儿来。
尽量 is an adverb and cannot take the aspect particle 了.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 尽量.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 尽量. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
尽量: As Much as Possible Questions
Does 尽量 promise success?
No. It promises or requests the greatest practical effort, not a guaranteed outcome.
Can 尽量 be used in requests?
Yes. 请尽量… is a common way to make a firm but flexible request.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三17】, 方式副词：互相、尽量、亲自、相互
Supports placement in HSK 3; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceA Reference Grammar of Chinese
Huang, Shi and Li · Cambridge University Press · 2022
Locator: Chapter 12, §§12.1–12.2, descriptive adverbs
Supports treating manner and extent expressions as preverbal adverbial modifiers without aspect marking.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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