zeon2儘尽
Jyutpingzeon2
Yalejéun
Definition
To the greatest extent; to do something as much as possible within a limit.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Functions as an adverbial modifier to indicate pushing a limit or capacity to its absolute maximum. It is almost always paired with verbs or adjectives that denote speed, quantity, or effort. Unlike formal written Chinese, it is rarely used in isolation in spoken Cantonese and almost always appears as part of a compound like 儘快 or 儘量.
Examples
Try to eat as much as you can, don't be shy.
This matter needs to be handled as soon as possible, it cannot be delayed.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 儘 with 盡. While they are sometimes interchangeable in writing, 儘 is specifically used for the sense of 'as much as possible' or 'to the best of one's ability', whereas 盡 often implies 'exhausted' or 'completely finished'.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
