尽量 (jǐn liàng) is an adverb meaning 'as much as possible' or 'to the greatest extent feasible.' It expresses effort toward maximizing an action or minimizing something undesirable, often implying constraint—such as time, ability, resources, or personal limits. Though composed of two characters—尽 (jǐn, 'to exhaust, to use up') and 量 (liàng, 'to measure, capacity')—the compound functions idiomatically and does not literally mean 'exhaust one’s measurement.' Instead, it conveys striving within realistic boundaries.

This word commonly appears before verbs (e.g., 尽量休息, 'rest as much as possible') or adjectives (e.g., 尽量安静, 'be as quiet as possible'). It carries a polite, considerate tone and is frequent in advice, instructions, and everyday requests—especially when acknowledging limitations. It’s neutral in register and widely used across spoken and written Chinese, from casual chats to formal notices.