Japanese word

せいぜい

Pronunciation

Romajiseizei

Meaning

  • adverbat most

Example

この仕事はせいぜい一時間で終わります。ko no shi goto wa se i ze i ichi ji kan de o wa ri ma su

This work will take at most one hour.

Illustration for せいぜい (at most)

More examples

参加者はせいぜい五人です。san ka sha wa se i ze i go nin de su

There are at most five participants.

Core concept

Sets a realistic ceiling on what can happen, be achieved, or be expected.

Common phrases

  • せいぜい一週間se i ze i is shū kan

    at most one week

  • せいぜい二、三時間se i ze i ni san ji kan

    at most two or three hours

  • せいぜい五人se i ze i go nin

    at most five people

Similar words

高々takadaka: Sets a realistic ceiling for an amount, level, or result without promising that it will be reached.
多くともōkutomo: Gives the maximum possible amount or number in a neutral way.

Definition in Japanese

物事を多く見積もっても、それ以上にはならないことを表す。到達できる最善の程度を示すこともある。mono goto o ō ku mi tsu mo tte mo so re i jō ni wa na ra na i ko to o arawa su tō tatsu de ki ru sai zen no tei do o shime su ko to mo a ru

Word origin

せいぜい (seizei) is an adverb of uncertain origin, and 精々 (seizei) is a conventional ateji spelling rather than a transparent compound whose kanji explain the word's history.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, せいぜい (seizei) can make a prediction sound modest by presenting a ceiling instead of promising that the highest result will occur.

Other meanings

  • at bestadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word