不尽 + 形容词/动词
not entirely; not altogether (written)
Structure
不尽 + 双音节形容词/动词(相同、一致、合理、准确) · 不尽如人意
What it means
Written ‘not entirely, not all’ (= 不完全, 不都): it softens a flat ‘not’ into ‘not wholly’, a polite way to disagree or criticise.
How it is built
不尽 + two-syllable adjective/verb (相同、一致、合理、准确), or the set phrase 如人意: 各地的标准不尽相同 (the standards are not all the same everywhere).
When to use it
Written commentary and polite criticism: 说法不尽合理, 报道不尽属实. 不尽相同 says some differ; 完全不同 says all do. In speech say 不完全 or 不都.
Watch out
Before a word it means ‘not wholly’; after a verb 不尽 means ‘endless’: 感激不尽 (extremely grateful), 取之不尽 (inexhaustible). Keep a two-syllable word after it.
Examples
各地选市花的标准不尽相同。
Cities do not all choose their flowers by the same standards.
网上流传的说法不尽准确,最好查一查原始资料。
What goes round online is not always accurate; best check the original sources.
这次比赛的结果不尽如人意,但队员们已经尽力了。
The result was not all one might have wished, but the players did their best.
Learn this in Lesson 169 · HSK 7–9: 市花与市树 (City flowers and city trees)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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