なるべく
In this lesson, you will learn the expression なるべく, which has the meaning of 'as much as possible', 'as much as you can'. なるべく won't be the only expression we will see; we will also see the expression できるだけ and かのうなかぎり, which are used to express essentially the same thing.
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to use these expressions in sentences.
なるべく is an expression that means 'as much as possible' or 'as much as you can', and it is composed of the verb なる, meaning 'to become' and べく, which means 'in order to' or 'be permissible'. It literally means 'as each opportunity becomes', thus meaning 'wherever practicable'.
なるべく + phrase
レポートは、なるべく早く出してください。
Repooto wa, narubeku hayaku dashite kudasai.
Please submit your report as soon as you can.
Here, we have 早く, which means 'quickly', so coupled with なるべく, it becomes 'as quickly as you can' or 'as soon as you can'.
The expression 出来るだけ is often used instead of なるべく. The expression is made of 出来る, which is the potential form of する (meaning 'can') and of だけ, meaning 'only'.
可能な限り is another expression we can use, composed of 可能な, a な adjective meaning 'possible', 'feasible', and of 限り, a noun meaning 'limit'. This expression means 'to the extend possible' or 'as much as possible'.
レポートは、可能な限り早く出してください。
Repooto wa, kanouna kagiri hayaku dashite kudasai.
Please, submit your report as soon as possible.
There is a more colloquial way to say なるべく and it is なるたけ.
なるたけ早く帰ってくるよ。
Narutake hayaku kaette kuru yo.
I'll be back as quick as I can.
生ものにつきなるべくお早くお召し上がりください。
Namamono ni tsuki narubeku ohayaku omeshi agari kudasai.
Please consume the raw product as soon as possible.
In this sentence, we talk in a higher keigo form. お早く is the honorific form of 早く; お召し上がり comes from the verb お召し上がる, which is a honorific form of the verb 食べる.
なるべく早く is a common expression used when we are in a hurry.
なるべく早く返事をします。
Narubeku hayaku henji o shimasu.
I'll reply as soon as I can.
There are some situations where it is preferable to avoid using なるべく. なるべく is used when making requests to someone, but it should be avoided if you are talking to a superior or a boss. You cannot ask from a superior a quick reply, even if you use the most honorific language. If you really need your boss to get a move on on something, we will use another language.
4月12日が期日のため、ご対応をお願いします。
Shigatsu juuni nichi no tame, gotaiou o onegai shimasu.
I would appreciate your attention, because April 12th is the deadline.
対応 (たいおう) is a noun meaning 'correspondence' or 'response', as in the fact of dealing with a matter at hand.
Other examples:
赤ちゃんがいるので、なるべく小さな声で話してください。
Akachan ga iru node, narubeku chiisana koe de hanashite kudasai.
I would ask you to speak as quietly as possible, as there is a baby (in the room).
なるべく子共達に任せたほうがいいよ！
Narubeku kodomo tachi ni makaseta hou ga ii yo!
It is better to leave it to the kids!