zi3 siu2至少
Definition
At least; a minimum of; referring to the lower bound of a quantity or a minimal expectation.
How it's used
While 至少 functions as a formal adverb, it is frequently replaced by 起碼 in everyday speech to sound more natural. It often carries a sense of setting a baseline expectation or a minimum threshold for a situation to be considered acceptable. When used in a social context, it implies that a certain action is the bare minimum required to be polite or responsible.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 至少 in contexts where 起碼 is more idiomatic, making the sentence sound like a written report rather than a casual conversation. Additionally, avoid using it to mean 'at the very least' in a way that sounds like a direct translation of English, as Cantonese speakers prefer the more colloquial tone of 起碼 for personal opinions.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
