せいぜい

Usually written in kana. Kanji spelling 精々

at the most; at best; to the utmost; as much as possible

JLPT N3 Common word Also written 精精

Meanings

Adverb
at the most; at best
to the utmost; as much as possible; as much as one can

Example sentences

彼かれはせいぜい１８歳さいだ。

He is not more than eighteen.
彼女かのじょはせいぜい18歳さいだ。

She is at most 18 years old.
彼かれはせいぜい二流にりゅうの学者がくしゃだ。

He is at best a second-rate scholar.
村むらまでせいぜい２マイルだ。

It is not more than two miles to the village.
人生じんせいはせいぜい苦難くなんの海うみだ。

Life is, at best, a sea of troubles.

More examples (10)

旅費りょひはせいぜい千せんドルだろう。

The trip will cost $1000 at the outside.
彼女かのじょはせいぜい二流にりゅうの歌手かしゅだ。

She is a second-rate singer at best.
ヘレンはせいぜい４０キロだ。

Helen weighs not more than 40 kilograms.
あの婦人ふじんはせいぜい４０歳ぜろさいだ。

The lady is forty years old at most.
狭せまい部屋へやをせいぜい広ひろく使つかった。

I made the best of my small room.
それはせいぜい二流にりゅうのホテルだ。

It is at best a second-rate hotel.
この時計とけいはせいぜい１０ドルだ。

This watch costs ten dollars at the most.
そこにいたのはせいぜい５０人にんだ。

There were barely fifty people there.
彼かれはせいぜい１万いちまんドル払はらっただけだ。

He paid at most ten thousand dollars.
私わたしの手品てじなはせいぜいこんなもんです。

This is at best the extent of my magic.