GRAMMAR
精々
at most
at best
Explanation
NOTE
精々 means at most or at best — used to give an upper-limit estimate.
この仕事は精々三日で終わる。
This work will be finished in at most three days.
精々 sets an upper bound: *no more than that*.
NOTE
It is an adverb placed before a number, quantity, or descriptive phrase to cap the estimate.
STRUCTURE
精々+Number / Quantity
会場には精々百人しか来なかった。
Kaijou ni wa seizei hyakunin shika konakatta.
At most a hundred people came to the venue.
彼の給料は精々二十万円だろう。
Kare no kyuuryou wa seizei nijuuman'en darou.
His salary is at most 200,000 yen, probably.
休みは精々一週間しか取れない。
Yasumi wa seizei isshuukan shika torenai.
I can take at most a week off.
NOTE
It often carries a slightly dismissive nuance — that's all it amounts to, less than expected.
STRUCTURE
精々+Verb / Phrase
私にできるのは精々応援することくらいだ。
Watashi ni dekiru no wa seizei ouen suru koto kurai da.
All I can do is at best cheer them on.
彼の実力では精々二位がいいところだ。
Kare no jitsuryoku de wa seizei nii ga ii tokoro da.
With his skill, at best he'll get second place.
この古い車は売っても精々五万円だ。
Kono furui kuruma wa uttemo seizei goman'en da.
Even if you sell this old car, it's at most 50,000 yen.
Practice exercises
1
私にできることは、精々これくらいまでだ。
What I can do is, at best, only this much.
Answer
精々
2
彼は精々5分以上は走れないだろう。
He probably can't run for at most 5 minutes.
Answer
精々
3
彼はあまりに疲れて、精々3時間しか眠れなかった。
He was too tired, so at best, he could only sleep for 3 hours.
Answer
精々
4
この計画では、精々現状維持だろう。
With this plan, at best, we'll maintain the status quo.
Answer
精々
5
今から始めても、精々完成は来週だろう。
Even if we start now, completion will be at most next week.
Answer
精々