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Hi guys what is the difference in the usage of 成るべく and できるだけ?

Don't they both mean **as [x] as possible**?

E.g.:

1) できるだけ多くの本を読みなさい vs なるべく多くの本を読みなさい

2) できるだけ早くお願いします vs なるべく早くお願いします
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2011-06-28T15:40:54.890
1593
2017-02-05T18:51:11.950
2011-12-21T07:12:47.080
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question
usage nuances words
what is the difference in the usage of [成]{な}るべく and できるだけ?
なるべく = as ~ as possible;

> なるべく早く: as fast as possible なるべく傷つけず: avoiding injury as much as possible

It needs a verb or adverb to be a complete phrase...

できるだけ = If I (you) can or as much as possible

> できるだけ日本に住みたい。

Both are common in conversation.
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2011-06-28T17:45:00.440
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2011-06-29T00:18:57.923
2011-06-29T00:18:57.923
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I think スコット's answer isn't that off the mark.

If you take なるべく and できるだけ word for word, they become:

> 成る《なる》 become + 可し 《べし》 must: something must become so-and-so
>
> できる is capable + だけ amount: you do so-and-so as best as you can

See how the subjects are different. なるべく just says that some state should be
reached, while できるだけ demands you to make maximum effort in achieving the goal.

This difference isn't much noticeable when used in first person, because the
speaker _is_ the one who needs to take action.

However, under an imperative context, できるだけ gets all the more demanding for
requiring the other person's effort. So なるべく sounds softer and more
appropriate when you're not in a position to demand effort from the listener.

  

[![Diagram](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AS3pu.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AS3pu.png)

This is how I visualize these two adverbs.

Again, the difference in nuance between the two is very subtle, and they're
interchangeable most of the time, if not always.
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2011-07-03T16:58:05.923
1715
2017-02-05T18:51:11.950
2017-02-05T18:51:11.950
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