尽くす【つくす】

尽くす (つくす) is a verb that means "to exhaust," "to use up completely," or "to do everything possible." It conveys the idea of reaching the absolute limit – leaving nothing remaining. It has two primary uses:

1. As a standalone verb: "to devote oneself / to do one's utmost"

When used on its own, 尽くす means to dedicate oneself fully or to serve wholeheartedly. It often appears with particles like に (for someone/something) or を (an effort or duty).

Common set phrases include ちからをつくす力を尽くす (to exert all one's effort), てをつくす手を尽くす (to try every possible means), and ことば言葉につくせない尽くせない (beyond words / indescribable).

2. As a compound verb suffix: V[stem] + 尽くす – "to do something completely / to exhaust"

When attached to the stem of another verb, 尽くす indicates that the action has been carried out to completion or exhaustion – nothing is left.

This compound usage emphasizes totality – every last bit has been consumed, destroyed, searched, etc. Common combinations include たべつくす食べ尽くす (to eat up completely), つかいつくす使い尽くす (to use up entirely), もえ燃えつくす尽くす (to burn out completely), しらべ調べつくす尽くす (to investigate thoroughly), and しりつくす知り尽くす (to know inside and out).

Nuance

尽くす carries a strong sense of totality and finality. In the compound verb usage, it is stronger than 〜～きる in that it often implies there is truly nothing left – resources are depleted, possibilities are exhausted, or efforts have been taken to the extreme. It is used in formal writing, literary contexts, and dramatic expressions, though it also appears in everyday speech with set phrases.