尽管 (feel free to)

• Pinyin: jǐnguǎn
• Formation: 尽管 + Verb (Phrase)
• Hanzi breakdown: 尽 = 尸 (body) + 灬 (fire); 管 = 竹 (bamboo) + 官 (official)

Meaning

尽管 (jǐnguǎn) as an adverb means 'feel free to' or 'go ahead and.' It encourages the listener to do something without hesitation, worry, or restraint. This is distinct from 尽管 as a conjunction meaning 'despite.'

尽管 has two distinct grammatical roles. As an adverb (the focus here), it grants permission or encouragement, often accompanied by reassurance that there will be no negative consequences. It is warmer and more emphatic than simply saying 请 (please). As a conjunction meaning 'despite' or 'even though,' it introduces a concessive clause, similar to 虽然. Context usually makes the intended meaning clear: when 尽管 directly precedes a verb without a following 但是/可是 clause, it functions as 'feel free.' It is commonly used in hospitable or supportive contexts — hosts encouraging guests, bosses reassuring employees, or friends offering help.

Examples

1. 有什么困难尽管说，大家会帮你想办法。 If you have any difficulties, feel free to speak up — everyone will help you find a solution.
2. 这些水果是自家种的，你尽管拿。 These fruits are homegrown — feel free to take some.
3. 需要用车的话，尽管开我的。 If you need a car, feel free to drive mine.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: encouraging

Do Say

• 这事你尽管放心，我一定办妥。
• 想问什么尽管问，我知无不言。
• 你尽管去忙你的，孩子我来带。
• 有任何需要尽管跟我说，别客气。

Don't Say

• 他尽管迟到了，老师没有批评他。(This uses 尽管 as 'despite' but is missing the conjunction 但是 — should be 尽管他迟到了，但是老师没有批评他) → 尽管他迟到了，但是老师没有批评他。
• 我尽管不喜欢吃辣。(尽管 as 'feel free' cannot precede a negative preference — this confuses the adverb and conjunction meanings) → 我不太喜欢吃辣。

Origin & History

尽管 combines 尽 (to exhaust, fully) and 管 (to manage, to care about). The adverbial sense literally suggests 'fully manage to do it' — that is, proceed without holding back. The concessive sense developed later, paralleling 'even if one fully considers that...'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal