How to Say “Feel Free” with 尽管 (jǐnguǎn)
尽管 (jǐnguǎn) here is the encouraging “feel free to / go ahead and”: 尽管 + Verb, right before the verb, telling someone to act without holding back. 有问题尽管问 (“feel free to ask if you have questions”), 别客气，尽管坐 (“don't be shy, take a seat”). The doer sits before 尽管, and a verb follows it. Careful: the same 尽管 before a whole clause flips to “although,” and it's not 尽量 (“as much as possible”).
Why this trips learners up
This 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) is the warm, encouraging “feel free to / go ahead and.” You use it to tell someone not to hold back: 有问题尽管问 (“feel free to ask if you have any questions”), 别客气，尽管坐 (“don't be shy, take a seat”), 这些饮料免费，尽管喝 (“the drinks are free, help yourself”). The 尽 inside it is the “to the utmost” 尽 of 尽量 and 尽力, so the flavour is “do it fully, without hesitating.” It's the language of hospitality and reassurance.
The structure is as simple as it looks: 尽管 + Verb, with 尽管 sitting right before the verb. Two placement points. First, the doer goes before 尽管, not after it: 你尽管吃 (“go ahead and eat”), never 尽管你吃. Second, a verb must follow 尽管; it can't trail off or sit in front of a bare noun. Very often a “if there's anything…” topic sets it up (有什么问题、想吃什么、需要什么…), and 就 or 别客气 keeps it company: 需要什么就尽管说 (“if you need anything, just say so”).
Here's the thing that makes 尽管 tricky, and the reason it gets two pages: the same written word, placed in front of a whole clause and usually answered by 还是 or 但, means “although / even though.” 尽管问 is “feel free to ask,” but 尽管有问题，他还是很乐观 is “although there are problems, he's still upbeat.” You tell them apart by what comes next: a bare verb after 尽管 is the encouraging “feel free”; a clause after 尽管 (especially with a 还是/但 later) is the concessive “although.”
One more word to keep it apart from: 尽量 (jǐnliàng, “as much as possible”). They share the 尽 but say different things. 有问题尽管问 tells you to ask freely, without holding back; 有问题尽量问 would tell you to ask as much as you can, which is about effort, not permission. And a pronunciation footnote, the same one 尽量 has: you'll hear 尽管 as both jǐnguǎn (the correct reading) and jìnguǎn, and plenty of educated native speakers say jìnguǎn, so don't be thrown when you hear it.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
bié kèqi 别客气， Other jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern zuò 坐 Verb
Don't be shy, take a seat (尽管 + verb, plain encouragement).
è le jiù 饿了就 Other jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern chī 吃 Verb bié kèqi ，别客气 Other
If you're hungry, help yourself, don't be shy (就 + 尽管 + verb).
yǒu kùnnan 有困难 Other jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern lái zhǎo wǒ 来找我 Verb
If you run into trouble, feel free to come to me (a "there's trouble" topic + 尽管).
zhè běn shū 这本书 Object nǐ 你 Subject jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern ná qù kàn 拿去看 Verb
Feel free to take this book and read it (topic-fronted object + 尽管 + verb).
nǐ 你 Subject jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern shì 试， Verb zuò huài le yě méi guānxi 做坏了也没关系 Other
Give it a try, it doesn't matter if it goes wrong (encouragement plus reassurance).
huìyì shàng yǒu xiǎngfǎ jiù 会议上有想法就 Other jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern tí chūlái 提出来 Verb
If you have ideas in the meeting, feel free to bring them up (就 + 尽管 + verb).
fángjiān suíbiàn yòng 房间随便用， Other xūyào shénme 需要什么 Other jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern gēn qiántái shuō 跟前台说 Verb
Use the room as you like; feel free to tell the front desk whatever you need (alongside 随便).
rúguǒ juéde jiàgé bù héshì 如果觉得价格不合适， Other jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern gēn wǒmen jiǎng 跟我们讲， Verb wǒmen kěyǐ zài shāngliang 我们可以再商量 Other
If you feel the price isn't right, feel free to tell us, we can talk it over (a negotiating register).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: The doer goes before 尽管, not after it. “Go ahead and eat” is 你尽管吃, with 你 first, not 尽管你吃. 尽管 sits directly in front of the verb, so put the person (if you name them) ahead of it.
Why it happens: The encouraging 尽管 needs a verb right after it. “Feel free to drink whatever you want” is 想喝什么尽管喝, not 想喝什么尽管, which trails off. 尽管 leans on the action, so name the verb: 尽管喝, 尽管拿, 尽管问.
Why it happens: 尽管 (“feel free”) is not 尽量 (“as much as possible”). 有问题尽管问 invites you to ask without holding back; 有问题尽量问 would tell you to ask as much as you can, a matter of effort. When you're giving someone permission to go ahead, it's 尽管, not 尽量.
Compare & contrast
| 尽管 + Verb (feel free: go ahead unreservedly) | 尽管 + Clause (although / even though: concession) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 有问题尽管问yǒu wèntí jǐnguǎn wèn = “feel free to ask if you have questions” (尽管 + verb 问, encouragement) | 尽管有问题，他还是很乐观jǐnguǎn yǒu wèntí, tā háishì hěn lèguān = “although there are problems, he’s still upbeat” (尽管 + clause, concession) | 有问题尽管问 puts 尽管 right before a verb (问), so it means “feel free to ask.” 尽管有问题，他还是很乐观 puts 尽管 in front of a whole clause (有问题) with a 还是 later, so it flips to “although there are problems.” Verb after 尽管 means permission; a clause after it means concession. |
| 想说什么尽管说xiǎng shuō shénme jǐnguǎn shuō = “feel free to say whatever you like” (尽管 + verb) | 尽管他说了很多，我还是没懂jǐnguǎn tā shuō le hěn duō, wǒ háishì méi dǒng = “even though he said a lot, I still didn’t get it” (尽管 + clause, answered by 还是) | 想说什么尽管说 is encouragement, “feel free to say whatever you like” (尽管 + verb 说). 尽管他说了很多，我还是没懂 is concession, “even though he said a lot, I still didn't get it” (尽管 + clause, answered by 还是). Same 尽管, told apart by what follows. |
Try it yourself
Say “If you need anything, feel free to tell me.” Set up the topic, then put 尽管 right before the verb: 有什么需要，尽管跟我说.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Feel Free” with 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.