As much as possible – jǐnliàng

Grammar Point:
The term 儘尽量 jìjǐnliàng in Chinese serves as an adverb and is used to convey the idea of “as much as possible” or “to the greatest extent.” It is often used in various contexts to indicate a strong effort to maximize or optimize something.

Structure

In China, you might come across the word “儘尽量” being pronounced in two ways, “jǐnliàng” and “jìnliàng.” While “jǐnliàng” is technically the correct pronunciation for its adverbial use, “jìnliàng” is generally reserved for its verb form. Interestingly, many educated native speakers in China tend to use “jìnliàng” when they pronounce “儘尽量” as an adverb. In Taiwan, on the other hand, the common practice is to simply say “jìnliàng.”

jǐnliàng + V

你nǐ儘量jìnliàng吃chī， 別bié客氣kèqì你nǐ尽量jǐnliàng吃chī， 别bié客气kèqi
Eat as much as you can, don’t be shy.

儘量jìnliàng控制kòngzhì好hǎo預算yùsuàn， 才cái不會búhuì有yǒu問題wèntí尽量jǐnliàng控制kòngzhì好hǎo预算yùsuàn， 才cái不会búhuì有yǒu问题wèntí
Try to control your budget as much as possible to avoid any issues.

大家dàjiā儘量jìnliàng說說shuōshuō自己zìjǐ的de看法kànfǎ大家dàjiā尽量jǐnliàng说说shuōshuō自己zìjǐ的de看法kànfǎ
Everyone, please try to share your own opinions.

我wǒ儘量jìnliàng寫xiě， 但dàn我wǒ不bù保證bǎozhèng我wǒ寫得完xiědewán我wǒ尽量jǐnliàng写xiě， 但dàn我wǒ不bù保证bǎozhèng我wǒ写得完xiědewán
I’ll try my best to write, but I can’t guarantee I’ll finish.

這zhè張zhāng卡qiǎ你nǐ拿ná去qù儘量jìnliàng刷shuā， 沒méi上限shàngxiàn这zhè张zhāng卡qiǎ你nǐ拿ná去qù尽量jǐnliàng刷shuā， 没méi上限shàngxiàn
Feel free to use this card as much as you want; there’s no limit.

他tā儘量jìnliàng不bú讓ràng自己zìjǐ個人gerén的de感覺gǎnjué來lái影響yǐngxiǎng公司gōngsī的de決定juédìng他tā尽量jǐnliàng不bú让ràng自己zìjǐ个人gerén的de感觉gǎnjué来lái影响yǐngxiǎng公司gōngsī的de决定juédìng
He does his best not to let his personal feelings influence the company’s decisions.

人生rénshēng苦短kǔduǎn， 你nǐ應該yīnggāi儘量jìnliàng享受xiǎngshòu當下dāngxià人生rénshēng苦短kǔduǎn， 你nǐ应该yīnggāi尽量jǐnliàng享受xiǎngshòu当下dāngxià
Life is short; you should try to enjoy the moment as much as possible.

FYI
人生苦短 rénshēng kǔduǎn is a Chinese idiom that translates to “life is short and bitter” in English. When people use this phrase, it usually implies that life is indeed short, and it encourages us to make the most of it and add some sweetness to the mix. It’s like saying, “Life is short, so let’s make it sweet!”

Practice

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✔️ It’s best to avoid traveling to China during the Chinese New Year period because restaurants and shops are closed.

儘量jìnliàng避免bìmiǎn在zài過年guònián期間qíjiān來lái中國Zhōngguó旅遊lǚyóu， 因為yīnwèi餐廳cāntīng、 商店shāngdiàn都dōu關門guānmén尽量jǐnliàng避免bìmiǎn在zài过年guònián期间qījiān来lái中国Zhōngguó旅游lǚyóu， 因为yīnwèi餐厅cāntīng、 商店shāngdiàn都dōu关门guānmén

✔️ We should try to minimize our expenses as much as possible.

我們wǒmen應該yīnggāi儘量jìnliàng減少jiǎnshǎo花費huāfèi我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi尽量jǐnliàng减少jiǎnshǎo花费huāfèi

✔️ Even though Dad is very busy, he always tries to find time to have a meal with us.

爸爸bàba雖然suīrán很hěn忙máng， 但是dànshì他tā總是zǒngshì儘量jìnliàng找zhǎo出chū時間shíjiān陪péi我們wǒmen吃飯chīfàn爸爸bàba虽然suīrán很hěn忙máng， 但是dànshì他tā总是zǒngshì尽量jǐnliàng找zhǎo出chū时间shíjiān陪péi我们wǒmen吃饭chīfàn