なるべく
- 1As (much / soon / quietly, etc.) as possible; to the greatest extent one can.Ex. 1
- 2If possible, preferably; expresses a soft wish or request rather than a strict demand.Ex. 2
Verb (nai-form)The negative form of a verb, ending in ない.
行かない・食べない・しない・来（こ）ない
i-adj. (ku-form)The form with the final い changed to く.
高く・おいしく・よく（いい）
Often modifies a verb directly (早く来る); also followed by なる・ない・て・する, as in 高くなる.
na-adj. stemA na-adjective without な, i.e. the form listed in a dictionary.
静か・きれい・好き
Add な before a noun (静かな部屋); as a predicate, follow it with だ／です (静かだ).
Verb (dictionary form)The basic form of a verb, as listed in a dictionary (non-past, affirmative).
行く・食べる・する・来る
Narrower than the plain form, which also covers 行かない・行った・行かなかった.
Verb (nai-form)The negative form of a verb, ending in ない.
行かない・食べない・しない・来（こ）ない
SentenceA complete sentence. It can end in a verb, an adjective, or a noun + だ／です.
雨が降る・昨日は寒かった・明日は休みです
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Neutral in register and very common in everyday requests, instructions, and statements of personal intention, often paired with ください, てほしい, or ようにする. It is close to できるだけ, which is slightly more emphatic. Because it signals flexibility, it sounds softer and more polite than a direct command.
Do not use なるべく + の to modify a noun (なるべくの努力); use できるだけの努力 instead.
Note that なるべく implies 'if circumstances allow', so it is weaker than 必ず and unsuitable for absolute requirements.
- 1.ようにするN4「ようにする」 attaches to a verb and comes at the end of the sentence, meaning to make a point of doing something or to try to bring about a certain state, while 「なるべく」 is an adverb that modifies verbs and adjectives. The two differ in part of speech and are often used together as 「なるべく〜ようにする」.
- 2.限りN2When 「限り」 expresses a limit, as in 「できる限り」 and 「可能な限り」, it is close to 「なるべく」 and the two are interchangeable, though it puts more emphasis on the maximum, and 「可能な限り」 is more formal. 「限り」 can also express conditions such as 'as long as' or 'unless.'
- 3.せいぜいN3When 「せいぜい」 means 'as much as possible,' it is mostly used to urge someone on and sounds casual, sometimes even sarcastic or condescending, so it is not a suitable replacement for the milder-toned 「なるべく」. It also means 'at most,' a sense that 「なるべく」 does not have.
- 4.せめてN2「せめて」 means 'at least' or 'if only,' asking for just the minimum when the ideal is out of reach, and it often pairs with 「だけでも」 and 「でも」. It can also look back on things that have already happened to express relief or regret, which 「なるべく」 cannot, so the two are not interchangeable.
なるべく marks the desired degree ('as ... as possible') and often combines with ようにする, which expresses ongoing effort toward a habit or result; できる限り (限り) is a more formal, emphatic equivalent. せいぜい means 'at most / at best', setting an upper limit, and せめて means 'at least', expressing a minimum hope. なるべく aims for the maximum achievable.
