hei2 maa5起碼起码
Jyutpinghei2 maa5
Yalehéi máh
Definition
At least; the minimum requirement.
colloquialtimenumbers
How it's used
Focuses on the minimum requirement or threshold for a situation to be acceptable or possible. It often implies that the speaker expects more than the stated amount, but is willing to settle for this baseline. It is frequently used when discussing time, money, or social expectations.
Examples
It takes at least an hour to get to the airport from here.
You should at least say sorry to them.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 至少, which is more formal and often used in written contexts. In spoken Cantonese, 起碼 is the standard choice for expressing a minimum expectation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
