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盡力而為

简尽力而为 · 繁盡力而為

Mandarin · pinyin jìn lì ér wéi

to try one's utmost
to strive

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Characters in this entry

盡: Look up this written character
力: lì · power, capability, influence; Kangxi radical 19
而: ér · and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
為: Look up this written character
尽: jǐn · exhaust, use up; deplete
为: wèi · do, handle, govern, act; be

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–4–2–2 · jin4 li4 er2 wei2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

盡力而為 · find source passages ↗ · 尽力而为 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to spare no effort in doing something

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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