竭尽全力

竭尽全力 (jié jìn quán lì) is a powerful Chinese idiom, or chengyu, that translates to 'exhausting all one's strength.' Think of it as the ultimate way to say you are giving 110%.

When you use this phrase, you aren't just trying; you are fully committed. It suggests that you have reached into your reserves and left nothing on the table. It is a very positive, determined expression often used to describe athletes, students, or anyone facing a tough task.

This idiom is rooted in the classical Chinese tradition of chengyu, which often compresses historical wisdom into four characters. The characters break down as: 竭 (exhaust/finish), 尽 (all/complete), 全 (entire/whole), and 力 (strength).

Historically, it reflects the values of perseverance and diligence found in Confucian and military texts. It evolved from ancient accounts of soldiers or scholars who would not stop until their physical or mental capacity was completely spent. It remains a staple in both literature and modern daily conversation.

You will hear this phrase in both formal and informal settings. It is very common in motivational speeches, business reports, and sports commentary.

Commonly, it is paired with verbs like to do (做) or to help (帮助). For example, saying 'I will 竭尽全力 to help you' shows deep sincerity. It is more intense than simply saying 'I will try my best' (我会尽力), as the inclusion of 'exhausting' (竭) adds a layer of absolute finality and intensity.

1. 全力以赴: Similar to our target word, meaning to go all out. 2. 不遗余力: To spare no effort. 3. 孤注一掷: To stake everything on one throw. 4. 拼尽全力: To fight with all one's might. 5. 竭尽所能: To exhaust all one's abilities.

As a chengyu, it functions as a verb phrase. It is usually placed after a subject or used as an adverbial modifier. The pronunciation is jié (2nd tone), jìn (4th tone), quán (2nd tone), lì (4th tone).

It does not have plural forms or articles. It is a fixed expression, so you should not change the order of the characters. It rhymes internally with the rhythmic structure common to many four-character idioms.