अधिक से अधिक (adhik se adhik)

adverb A comparative-construction phrase built from अधिक (adhik, 'much/more') repeated with से (se) in between; it has two related senses: 'at most' (a ceiling on quantity) and 'to the maximum extent/as much as possible' (an adverbial push toward the upper limit).

Sense 1 : at most, at the maximum

adverb Typically precedes or follows a quantity/number to set its upper bound: अधिक से अधिक दस लोग (adhik se adhik das log, 'at most ten people').

Synonyms: ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा (zyaadaa se zyaadaa), बहुत हुआ तो (bahut huaa to, colloquial)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in bargaining at a Delhi market -- a shopkeeper capping a discount will say अधिक से अधिक बीस रुपये कम कर सकता हूँ (adhik se adhik biis rupye kam kar saktaa hoon, 'I can reduce it by twenty rupees at most'), and the doubled-word structure (X से X) itself is a common Hindi pattern for expressing a superlative extreme, seen also in kam se kam (kam se kam, 'at least').

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes place it after the number when it should precede for the 'ceiling' reading, e.g. अधिक से अधिक पाँच दिन (adhik se adhik paanch din, 'five days at most') sounds more natural than पाँच दिन अधिक से अधिक (paanch din adhik se adhik). 2) Confusing this sense with the 'maximum effort' sense below -- context (a number/limit vs. a verb of effort) disambiguates.

Sample Sentences:

दुकानदार अधिक से अधिक बीस रुपये कम कर सकता है। The shopkeeper can reduce it by twenty rupees at most.

(dukaandaar adhik se adhik biis rupye kam kar saktaa hai।)

इस काम में अधिक से अधिक दो घंटे लगेंगे। This work will take two hours at most.

(is kaam men adhik se adhik do ghante lagenge।)

कमरे में अधिक से अधिक दस लोग बैठ सकते थे। At most ten people could sit in the room.

(kamre men adhik se adhik das log baith sakte the।)

अधिक से अधिक कितना जुर्माना लग सकता है? What is the maximum fine that could be imposed?

(adhik se adhik kitnaa jurmaanaa lag saktaa hai?)

आवेदन जमा करने की अधिक से अधिक तिथि कल है। Tomorrow is the last possible date for submitting the application.

(aavedan jamaa karne kii adhik se adhik tithi kal hai।)

अगर सब ठीक रहा, तो अधिक से अधिक एक हफ्ते में काम पूरा हो जाएगा। If all goes well, the work will be done in a week at the most.

(agar sab thiik rahaa, to adhik se adhik ek haphte men kaam pooraa ho jaaegaa।)

यह टिकट अधिक से अधिक पाँच सौ रुपये का होना चाहिए, ज़्यादा नहीं। This ticket should cost five hundred rupees at most, not more.

(yah tikat adhik se adhik paanch sau rupye kaa honaa chaahie, zyaadaa nahiin।)

अगर उस समय वह अधिक से अधिक पचास किलो का सामान ले जाता, तो कोई दिक्कत नहीं होती। If he had carried fifty kilos of luggage at most that time, there would have been no problem.

(agar us samay vah adhik se adhik pachaas kilo kaa saamaan le jaataa, to koii dikkat nahiin hotii।)

भाई, अधिक से अधिक कितना दे सकते हो, बता दो। Brother, just tell me the maximum you can give.

(bhaaii, adhik se adhik kitnaa de sakte ho, bataa do।)

न्यायालय ने कहा कि दोषी को अधिक से अधिक सात साल की सज़ा दी जा सकती है। The court said that the accused can be given a maximum of seven years' imprisonment.

(nyaayaalay ne kahaa ki doshii ko adhik se adhik saat saal kii sazaa dii jaa saktii hai।)

Sense 2 : to the maximum extent, as much as possible

adverb Used with a verb of effort or action to push toward doing the most one can: अधिक से अधिक मेहनत करो (adhik se adhik mehnat karo, 'work as hard as possible').

Synonyms: जितना हो सके (jitnaa ho sake, 'as much as possible'), पूरी कोशिश से (poorii koshish se)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will often hear this in motivational or advisory speech -- a teacher or parent urging effort might say अधिक से अधिक कोशिश करो (adhik se adhik koshish karo, 'try as hard as you possibly can'), pairing naturally with verbs like कोशिश करना (koshish karnaa) or मेहनत करना (mehnat karnaa).

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes translate this too literally as 'more from more,' missing that it functions idiomatically as 'to the fullest extent' -- there is no separate word-for-word logic to parse each time.

Sample Sentences:

अधिक से अधिक कोशिश करो, सफलता जरूर मिलेगी। Try as hard as possible, you will definitely succeed.

(adhik se adhik koshish karo, saphaltaa jaroor milegii।)

मैं अधिक से अधिक लोगों तक यह संदेश पहुँचाना चाहता हूँ। I want to reach as many people as possible with this message.

(main adhik se adhik logon tak yah sandesh pahunchaanaa chaahtaa hoon।)

उसने अधिक से अधिक मेहनत करके परीक्षा पास कर ली। He worked as hard as possible and passed the exam.

(usne adhik se adhik mehnat karke pariikshaa paas kar lii।)

कृपया अधिक से अधिक पानी पिएँ, गर्मी बहुत है। Please drink as much water as possible, it is very hot.

(kripyaa adhik se adhik paanii pien, garmii bahut hai।)

अगर हम अधिक से अधिक पेड़ लगाएँ, तो प्रदूषण कम हो सकता है। If we plant as many trees as possible, pollution could decrease.

(agar ham adhik se adhik ped lagaaen, to pradooshan kam ho saktaa hai।)

शिक्षक ने कहा कि हमें अधिक से अधिक अभ्यास करना चाहिए। The teacher said that we should practice as much as possible.

(shikshak ne kahaa ki hamen adhik se adhik abhyaas karnaa chaahie।)

कंपनी अधिक से अधिक मुनाफा कमाने की कोशिश कर रही है। The company is trying to earn as much profit as possible.

(kampnii adhik se adhik munaaphaa kamaane kii koshish kar rahii hai।)

काश मैं अधिक से अधिक समय अपने परिवार के साथ बिता पाता। I wish I could spend as much time as possible with my family.

(kaash main adhik se adhik samay apne parivaar ke saath bitaa paataa।)

अधिक से अधिक जानकारी इकट्ठा करने के बाद ही फैसला लिया जाएगा। The decision will be made only after gathering as much information as possible.

(adhik se adhik jaankaarii ikatthaa karne ke baad hii phaislaa liyaa jaaegaa।)

यार, अधिक से अधिक दोस्तों को पार्टी में बुला लेना। Dude, invite as many friends as possible to the party.

(yaar, adhik se adhik doston ko paartii men bulaa lenaa।)

सरकार अधिक से अधिक नौकरियाँ पैदा करने का प्रयास कर रही है। The government is making an effort to create as many jobs as possible.

(sarkaar adhik se adhik naukriyaan paidaa karne kaa prayaas kar rahii hai।)