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最少 (zuì shǎo) — (adv.) at least; no less than; (adj.) the least; minimum

Definition

最少 means 'the least' or 'at least' depending on context — before a number it's 'at least' (minimum amount); after a noun it's 'the least / the fewest'.

verb
(adv.) at leastno less than(adj.) the leastminimum

Examples

  • 最少。
    Nǐ zuì shǎo yào zhǔn bèi sān tiān de shí wù.
    You need to prepare at least three days' worth of food.
  • 最少。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì tā cuò de tí zuì shǎo.
    He got the fewest questions wrong on this exam.
  • 最少。
    Wán chéng zhè ge xiàng mù zuì shǎo xū yào liǎng gè yuè.
    Completing this project will take at least two months.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

最zuìmost
少shǎofew/least

"最" (most) sets "少" (few) to its minimum, giving least or at least.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ最zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape pairs 取, which gives the sound, with a roof-like top from 宀; marks above were later added to separate the “most” meaning.

Open 最 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 少 is drawn as four dots, perhaps three grains of sand, to indicate a few or a little.

Open 少 →
Appears in
Quantity & Amount

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