尽力

• Pinyin: jìn lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 尽 = simplified from 盡, to exhaust/complete + 力 = pictograph of a muscular arm, meaning strength

Meaning

To try one's best; to do all one can. Expresses making maximum effort toward a goal.

Can be used as a verb phrase (尽力做某事) or as an adverbial modifier. Slightly more formal than 努力, and emphasizes the limit of one's ability rather than ongoing effort. Often used when the outcome is uncertain but the speaker commits to full effort.

Examples

1. 我会尽力帮助你的。 I will try my best to help you.
2. 虽然困难很大，但他还是尽力完成了任务。 Although the difficulties were great, he still did his best to complete the task.
3. 我们已经尽力了，结果只能看运气。 We've already done our best; the result is up to luck now.

Usage Guide

Context: promises, encouragement, workplace

Tone: determined

Do Say

• 我会尽力在周五之前完成。(I'll try my best to finish by Friday.)
• 她尽力照顾生病的母亲。(She did everything she could to take care of her sick mother.)

Don't Say

• 我尽力很高兴 (尽力 means to exert effort toward a task, not to try to feel an emotion — say 我尽力让自己高兴起来)

Origin & History

Composed of 尽 (to exhaust, to the fullest) and 力 (strength, power), literally 'exhaust one's strength' — to give everything one has.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal