As Much As Possible (できるだけ・なるべく)

To say ‘as much as possible’ or ‘as much as you can’ in Japanese, we take the standard potential form of the verb (usually the verb ‘to do’: できる) and add だけ.

できるだけ早はやく来きてほしい。

I want you to come as quickly as possible.

東京とうきょうの観光地かんこうちについてできるだけ情報じょうほうを集あつめる。

Gather as much information as possible about tourist spots in Tokyo.

環境かんきょうを意識いしきして、できるだけエネルギーを効率的こうりつてきに使つかうようにする。

Be environmentally conscious and use energy as efficiently as possible.

Using Other Verbs (Verb Repetition)

We can form this phrase using the potential form of verbs other than ‘to do’ (する). Critical Rule: When doing this, you must repeat the action verb immediately after だけ. The structure is: 【Verb: Potential】だけ【Verb: Dictionary/Past】.

彼かれは昨日きのうの飲のみ会かいでお酒さけを飲のめるだけ飲のんだみたいなので、今日きょうは二日酔ふつかよいで来こられない。

It seems he drank as much as he possibly could at yesterday’s drinking party, so he can’t come today because of a hangover.

バイキングだから、食たべられるだけ食たべてくださいね。

It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, so please eat as much as you can.

As Much As You Want (〜たいだけ)

Using the exact same repetition rule, you can swap the potential verb for the 〜たい (want to) form to mean “as much as you want.”

今日きょうは泣なきたいだけ泣ないてもいいよ。

It’s okay to cry as much as you want to today.

JLPT Synonym: なるべく

For JLPT N4 and N3, it is highly recommended to learn the adverb なるべく. It is completely interchangeable with できるだけ and is extremely common in daily Japanese.

なるべく早はやく来きてほしい。

I want you to come as quickly as possible.