なるべく

なるべく · narubeku · JLPT N4 · adverb

if possible

naru (become) + beku (as ought to) = as far as it can become so

From classical Japanese: なる (to become, to come about) plus べく, a form of the old auxiliary べし (can, should). Literally 'so far as it can come about', which is why it means as much as possible or if possible.

More Japanese words · How Japanese works