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なるべく

as much as possible, if possible

なるべく + Verb / adjective

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なるべく means "as much as possible" or "where possible": なるべく早く来てください, "please come as early as you can".

It's softer than an absolute rule. It asks for effort within reason: なるべく野菜を食べるようにしている, "I try to eat vegetables where I can". With a negative, it's "avoid if you can": 夜はなるべく外に出ないでください.

It's interchangeable with できるだけ in almost every sentence.

Compare 必ず ("without fail") and 絶対に ("absolutely"), which are strict. なるべく leaves room: do your best, but it's not a rule. In polite requests, なるべく softens what you're asking, so it's very common at work.

Examples

  • なるべく早はやく来きてください。

    Please come as early as you can.

  • なるべく野菜やさいを食たべるようにしている。

    I try to eat vegetables as much as possible.

  • 夜よるはなるべく外そとに出でないでください。

    Please avoid going out at night as far as possible.

  • 荷物にもつはなるべく少すくなくしたほうがいい。

    You'd better keep your luggage as light as you can.

  • なるべく日本語にほんごで話はなしましょう。

    Let's speak in Japanese as much as we can.

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