Japanese word

なるべく

Pronunciation

Romajinarubeku

Meaning

  • adverbas much as possible

Example

なるべく早く寝ます。na ru be ku haya ku ne ma su

I go to bed as early as possible.

Illustration for なるべく (as much as possible)

More examples

健康のために、なるべく階段を使います。ken kō no ta me ni na ru be ku kai dan o tsuka i ma su

For my health, I use the stairs as much as possible.

Core concept

It presents an action as something to pursue to the fullest extent that circumstances allow.

Common phrases

  • なるべく早くna ru be ku haya ku

    as early as possible

  • なるべく多くna ru be ku ō ku

    as many as possible

  • なるべく簡単にna ru be ku kan tan ni

    as simply as possible

Similar words

できるだけdekirudake: It expresses doing something to the greatest possible extent, with a clear focus on what can be done.

Definition in Japanese

条件の許す限り、ある行動や状態を最大限に近づけるさま。jō ken no yuru su kagi ri a ru kō dō ya jō tai o sai dai gen ni chika zu ke ru sa ma

Word origin

なるべく (narubeku) comes from 成るべく (narubeku): 成る (naru, "become") combines with べく (beku), the classical adverbial form of べし (beshi, "should").

Usage tips

  • In everyday requests, なるべく (narubeku) signals flexibility, so the requested action is preferred but not treated as an absolute requirement.

Other meanings

  • if possibleadverb

Word lists with this word