Scope Adverbs – 尽 jìn and 净 jìng

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, some adverbs don’t just describe how an action happens. They set the range or limit of the action. These are called scope adverbs. They show “how much, to what extent, or within what limit” something happens. Two common ones are 盡尽 jìn and 淨净 jìng, but they work very differently.

盡尽 jìn

盡尽 jìn makes an action reach its maximum. It means do everything, do it fully, or do as much as you can.

我wǒ會huì盡jìn力lì在zài下班xiàbān前qián完成wánchéng這zhè份fèn報告bàogào我wǒ会huì尽jǐn力lì在zài下班xiàbān前qián完成wánchéng这zhè份fèn报告bàogào
I will try my best to finish this report before leaving work.

這zhè次cì考試kǎoshì， 我wǒ要yào盡jìn全力quánlì拿ná到dào好hǎo成績chéngjī这zhè次cì考试kǎoshì， 我wǒ要yào尽jǐn全力quánlì拿ná到dào好hǎo成绩chéngjì
For this exam, I will use all my effort to get a good grade.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ盡jìn情qíng享受xiǎngshòu假期jiǎqí， 不用búyòng擔心dānxīn工作gōngzuò你nǐ可以kěyǐ尽jǐn情qíng享受xiǎngshòu假期jiǎqī， 不用búyòng担心dànxīn工作gōngzuò
You can enjoy your holiday to the fullest without worrying about work.

我wǒ會huì盡jìn我wǒ的de能力nénglì所suǒ及jí去qù做zuò我wǒ会huì尽jǐn我wǒ的de能力nénglì所suǒ及jí去qù做zuò
I will do everything I can.

他tā盡jìn可能kěnéng每天měitiān運動yùndòng， 保持bǎochí健康jiànkāng他tā尽jǐn可能kěnéng每天měitiān运动yùndòng， 保持bǎochí健康jiànkāng
He exercises as much as possible every day to stay healthy.

淨净 jìng

淨净 jìng is used when someone only does one thing, and usually it’s a little negative.

孩子háizi們men淨jìng吃chī零食língshí， 不bù吃飯chīfàn孩子háizi们men净jìng吃chī零食língshí， 不bù吃饭chīfàn
The kids only eat snacks, not meals.

他tā淨jìng會huì抱怨bàoyuàn，， 從來cónglái不bù提供tígōng解決jiějué方法fāngfǎ他tā净jìng会huì抱怨bàoyuàn， 从来cónglái不bù提供tígōng解决jiějué方法fāngfǎ
He does nothing but complain and never offers solutions.

這zhè家jiā餐廳cāntīng的de菜cài淨jìng是shì辣là的de， 完全wánquán沒有méiyǒu清淡qīngdàn的de選擇xuǎnzé这zhè家jiā餐厅cāntīng的de菜cài净jìng是shì辣là的de， 完全wánquán没有méiyǒu清淡qīngdàn的de选择xuǎnzé
All the dishes in this restaurant are spicy, there’s no mild option at all.

他tā淨jìng說shuō大話dàhuà他tā净jìng说shuō大话dàhuà
He always brags (and doesn’t do real things).

你們nǐmen淨jìng在zài外面wàimiàn聊天liáotiān， 不bú去qù準備zhǔnbèi報告bàogào你们nǐmen净jìng在zài外面wàimiàn聊天liáotiān， 不bú去qù准备zhǔnbèi报告bàogào
You’re doing nothing but chatting outside and not preparing the report!