<p>使 = utilize/ apply</p>
<p>劲 = force / power</p>
<p>'<strong>使劲</strong>' as a verb means '<strong>apply force</strong>' ; as an adverb, it means  '<strong>forcefully</strong>';  Since 'forcefully' is an adverb that modifies action verbs,  it is mainly be used for describing physical effort.</p>
<p>For example: 使劲打(forcefully hit), 使劲拉(forcefully pull)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>how does its usage differ from 尽量?</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><p><strong>使劲</strong> is an adverb for '<strong>forcefully</strong>'</p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>尽量</strong> is an adverb for '<strong>to the greatest extent / as far as possible</strong>'.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>For example: '尽量不让人知道' (go to the greatest extent not letting people know)</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>'使劲' and '尽量' are not very similar in meaning</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>May be you were thinking of '尽力' (with all of one's strength) which can be used to describe physical effort, similar to '使劲' .</p>
<p>For example: '尽力打' (hit with all your might),  '尽力拉' (pull with full strength)</p>
<p><em>In this sense, '使劲' and '尽力' are very similar.</em></p>
<p>But 尽力 can also be used metaphorically for 'do one's best' or 'try one's best'</p>
<p>For example: '尽力忍笑' (do one's best not to laugh)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Finally, '<strong>用力</strong>' (用= utilize/ use) (力 = force/strength) is synonym to '<strong>使劲</strong>'</p>
<p><strong>出力</strong> (出 = output /use) (力 = force/strength) is also a synonym</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-25T09:31:03.673Z
2017-06-25T17:18:36.987Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>Can 使劲 (put in effort, strain at) only be used for physical effort? If no, how does its usage differ from 尽量?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-25T10:33:12.500Z
Q easily answered by jukuu, its 100 samples for 使劲 all seem to be of the physical effort type (at least 1-20 and 91-100), re 尽量 see any dictionary, e.g. bkrs: 1) to the best of one's ability 2) (drink/eat) to the full
大家尽量吃饱。 Please eat until you are completely satiated.reach the highest level ... also see jukuu's 100 samples
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-25T11:25:22.093Z
Thanks, I did not know jukuu. On linedict, there are examples which suggest that it can also be used to describe non-physical effort, for example: 通过使劲攒钱，你能...
box
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-25T16:05:58.527Z
linedict  getting more comprehensive,
like the defunct nciku?
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-25T17:54:46.037Z
使劲 can be used metaphorically. E.g. 如果你不使劲，别人也帮不了你。"If you don't try hard, no one can do it for you."
NS.X.
<usage><difference>
Can 使劲 only be used for physical effort?
# Can 使劲 only be used for physical effort?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-25)

Can 使劲 (put in effort, strain at) only be used for physical effort? If no, how does its usage differ from 尽量?

**Tags:** usage, difference
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Q easily answered by jukuu, its 100 samples for 使劲 all seem to be of the physical effort type (at least 1-20 and 91-100), re 尽量 see any dictionary, e.g. bkrs: 1) to the best of one's ability 2) (drink/eat) to the full 大家尽量吃饱。 Please eat until you are completely satiated.reach the highest level ... also see jukuu's 100 samples  
> **username_0**: Thanks, I did not know jukuu. On linedict, there are examples which suggest that it can also be used to describe non-physical effort, for example: 通过使劲攒钱，你能...  
> **username_1**: linedict  getting more comprehensive, like the defunct nciku?  
> **username_2**: 使劲 can be used metaphorically. E.g. 如果你不使劲，别人也帮不了你。"If you don't try hard, no one can do it for you."  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-06-25. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

使 = utilize/ apply

劲 = force / power

'**使劲**' as a verb means '**apply force**' ; as an adverb, it means '**forcefully**'; Since 'forcefully' is an adverb that modifies action verbs, it is mainly be used for describing physical effort.

For example: 使劲打(forcefully hit), 使劲拉(forcefully pull)

> how does its usage differ from 尽量?

* **使劲** is an adverb for '**forcefully**'
* **尽量** is an adverb for '**to the greatest extent / as far as possible**'.

For example: '尽量不让人知道' (go to the greatest extent not letting people know)

> *'使劲' and '尽量' are not very similar in meaning*

May be you were thinking of '尽力' (with all of one's strength) which can be used to describe physical effort, similar to '使劲' .

For example: '尽力打' (hit with all your might), '尽力拉' (pull with full strength)

*In this sense, '使劲' and '尽力' are very similar.*

But 尽力 can also be used metaphorically for 'do one's best' or 'try one's best'

For example: '尽力忍笑' (do one's best not to laugh)

> Finally, '**用力**' (用= utilize/ use) (力 = force/strength) is synonym to '**使劲**'
>
> **出力** (出 = output /use) (力 = force/strength) is also a synonym


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