📖 Meaning
To give or return as much as one possibly can, whether the amount is large or small. It implies doing one's utmost to provide whatever one has available.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the modern Chinese play 'Fragrant Rice' (香稻米) by the playwright Hong Shen (洪深), written in the early 20th century. In the third act, the character Huang Erguan (黄二官) says, 'I will repay you as much as I can, whether much or little.' The phrase captures the idea of exhausting all of one's resources to fulfill an obligation.
💡 Example Usage
你先拿去用，我尽多尽少帮你凑一些。
Take it and use it first; I'll help you scrape together whatever I can, whether much or little.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 尽多尽少
- Pinyin: jǐn duō jǐn shǎo
- Literal Translation: as much, as little
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4