What does 尽 mean in this sentence?

[anonymoose]

A couple of sentences I came across:

 

然而对我，他们却沉默不语、冷冷清清，要不就尽说些有关流产、堕胎的话。

 

这个苟坚强，一看就不是什么正经人，刚在网上和他认识，他就尽说些肉麻的话，他的 目的无非是想玩那个，本姑娘可不能随便答应

 

It's fairly clear from context that it means something like "only". However, I cannot find an entry in the dictionary that seems to fit this meaning. For reference, quoted below is what is given on baidu.

 

● 尽

jìn
　1. 完毕：用～。说不～。取之不～。
　2. 达到极端：～头。山穷水～。～情。自～（自杀）。
　3. 全部用出，竭力做到：～心。～力。～瘁。～职。～忠。～责。人～其才。物～其用。
　4. 都，全：～然。～是白的。～收眼底。～释前嫌。

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● 尽

jǐn
　1. 极，最：～底下。
　2. 力求达到最大限度：～量（liàng ）。～管。

 

 

Can I just replace the 尽 with 只 without changing the meaning?

[daofeishi]

Looks like a 错别字 that should have been 仅?

[anonymoose]

Yes, that might be it. The original sentence I found was in a printed book. But yes, it may just be a mistake. Still, there are lots of such examples on the net.

[imron]

Still, there are lots of such examples on the net.

I'm sure their are, but usage on the web doesn't mean there correct.

[anonymoose]

True, but a search for "就尽说些" turns up 36 results for me, whereas "就仅说些" turns up nothing. That doesn't seem like it can be completely explained away as erroneous.

[aone]

他就尽说些肉麻的话

Here it means "always" /"constantly" . He constantly says something nauseating. Usage is correct. 

[anonymoose]

So would you say it corresponds to definition 4 in the quote above?

[aone]

尽 seems pedantic to me. I am not saying it corresponds to definition 4 in the quote above,  I mean 总是/老是（constantly/always） can  be a new definition which might be commonly used in ancient times / fiction. I will be driven crazy If one talks to me this way.

[MPhillips]

To me it sounds short for 尽量 / 盡量。

[aone]

Judging from the context,  he keeps saying something annoying; 尽量  means he tries to say  

[anonymoose]

OK, so you are judging from context. So would it be right to say that the meaning is ambiguous in this sentence, or this is not a very standard usage of 尽?

 

I'm still not very clear on the precise usage. Could I say, for example, 我的猫很挑食，它尽吃鱼肉，别的什么都不肯吃?

[Kenny同志]

然而对我，他们却沉默不语、冷冷清清，要不就尽说些有关流产、堕胎的话。

 

这个苟坚强，一看就不是什么正经人，刚在网上和他认识，他就尽说些肉麻的话，他的 目的无非是想玩那个，本姑娘可不能随便答应

Both are good. In them, 盡 means 都 or 全.

 

Can I just replace the 尽 with 只 without changing the meaning?

No, I am afraid not. There are some nuances. 

 

盡說些關於流產、墮胎的話 > and all they talked about were miscarriage and abortion

只說些關於流產、墮胎的話>and they only talked about miscarriage and abortion / and they only said something about miscarriage and abortion

 

Could I say, for example, 我的猫很挑食，它尽吃鱼肉，别的什么都不肯吃?

 

Yes, you could.

[anonymoose]

Thanks, Kenny, for the explanation. Still, I am not quite clear on the difference here between 尽 and 只. To me, "and all they talked about were miscarriage and abortion" and "and they only talked about miscarriage and abortion" mean the same thing, at least without any further context. Are you saying that "and all they talked about were miscarriage and abortion" means they talked a lot, but the only topic was miscarriage and abortion, whereas "and they only talked about miscarriage and abortion" means they didn't talk much, and what they did say was only about miscarriage and abortion?

 

And if my Chinese sentence is acceptable, I cannot see any difference between 我的猫很挑食，它尽吃鱼肉，别的什么都不肯吃 and 我的猫很挑食，它只吃鱼肉，别的什么都不肯吃.

 

[Kenny同志]

Are you saying that "and all they talked about were miscarriage and abortion" means they talked a lot, but the only topic was miscarriage and abortion, whereas "and they only talked about miscarriage and abortion" means they didn't talk much, and what they did say was only about miscarriage and abortion?

 

Yes, that's what I was trying to say.

 

And if my Chinese sentence is acceptable, I cannot see any difference between 我的猫很挑食，它尽吃鱼肉，别的什么都不肯吃 and 我的猫很挑食，它只吃鱼肉，别的什么都不肯吃.

 

Yes, they mean basically the same thing but by removing the same last part of the two sentences, you will leave some nuances between 我的貓很挑食，牠盡吃魚肉 and 我的貓很挑食，牠只吃魚肉.

 

The first sentence implies your cat has a lot to eat; though he/she usually doesn't eat other stuff except fish, he/she may when very hungry.

The second one implies your cat eats only fish and even when very hungry, he/she may not eat other stuff except fish. 

 

Just my two cents.

[anonymoose]

OK, I think I kind of get it. Thanks, Kenny.

[Manchester Un Red]

I think 尽is correct not 仅.It means all the time maybe

[陳德聰]

只A - only A and there is nothing else (there may even be a lack of other options)

尽A - all A instead of everything else (there are other options but only A is chosen)

 

If a cat 只吃鱼肉 it sounds picky.

If a cat 尽吃鱼肉 it doesn't sound picky, it sounds fat.

 

I'd say 只 is more limiting and implies a lack of else and 尽 focuses more on the overwhelming quantity in comparison to else.