精せい一いっ杯ぱい

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Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun

one's best; the best one can do

Used as a noun to refer to the utmost effort or limit of one's ability. Often appears in phrases like 精一杯だ (it's the best I can do) or 精一杯の (one's best possible).

これが今いまの私わたしの精せい一いっ杯ぱいです。
This is the best I can do right now.
彼かれは精せい一いっ杯ぱいの笑え顔がおで答こたえた。
He answered with his best possible smile.

adverb

with all one's might; as hard as possible

Adverbial use meaning to do something to the fullest extent of one's ability. Commonly modifies verbs like 頑張る, 努力する, 走る, etc.

明日あしたの試し合あいは精せい一いっ杯ぱい頑がん張ばります。
I'll do my very best in tomorrow's match.
彼かれは精せい一いっ杯ぱい走はしったが、間まに合あわなかった。
He ran as hard as he could, but didn't make it in time.

See all 34 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉が精せい一いっ杯ぱいだthat's about the most (one) can manage
今いまの給きゅう料りょうで生せい活かつするのが精せい一いっ杯ぱいだ。
Getting by on my current salary is about the most I can manage.
精せい一いっ杯ぱいの〈物もの〉the best (something) one can manage
精せい一いっ杯ぱいの笑え顔がおで挨あい拶さつした。
I greeted them with the best smile I could manage.
精せい一いっ杯ぱい〈動どう詞し〉to do something with all one's might
精せい一いっ杯ぱい頑がん張ばったので後こう悔かいはない。
I have no regrets because I did my absolute best.
精せい一いっ杯ぱい生いきるto live life to the fullest
一いち日にち一いち日にちを精せい一いっ杯ぱい生いきたいと思おもう。
I want to live each day to the fullest.

Kanji

精refined, ghost, fairy
一one, one radical (no.1)
杯counter for cupfuls, wine glass, glass

Related words· 7

全ぜん力りょくN1
全力 emphasizes using all of one's physical strength or power in an objective, often competitive sense, while 精一杯 stresses doing the best one personally can within one's own limits.
一いっ生しょう懸けん命めいN4
一生懸命 conveys earnest, almost desperate effort as if one's life depended on it, whereas 精一杯 simply means doing the maximum one is capable of.
最さい善ぜんN2sense 1
最善 is a more formal word for the best possible course of action or result, while 精一杯 focuses on the personal effort exerted rather than the outcome.
せいぜいN3
精一杯 emphasizes giving one's full effort with a positive, encouraging tone, while 精々 in this sense can also sound flat or even sarcastic.

Show 3 more

力ちから一いっ杯ぱいN1
力一杯 emphasizes using all one's physical strength or force, while 精一杯 emphasizes doing the best one can within one's ability or situation.
渾こん身しん
精一杯 is a softer, everyday way to say 'as much as one can', while 渾身 has a heavier, more forceful and literary tone.
できるだけN4
できるだけ means 'as much as possible' in a general sense, while 精一杯 emphasizes putting in one's utmost personal effort.

Opposites

適てき当とうN4sense 2
精一杯 means giving one's full effort, while 適当 means doing something carelessly or half-heartedly without trying very hard.

Don't confuse with

一いっ杯ぱいN5
一杯 means 'a cup (of something)' or 'full/plenty', while 精一杯 (built on the same kanji) means 'one's utmost effort' — don't confuse the two despite the shared 一杯.

Built from

精せい+一いっ杯ぱい

Etymology

Formed from 精 “energy, strength” and 一杯 “the fullest extent.” It denotes expending all one’s available energy or reaching the limit of one’s capacity.