至多 (zhì duō) — at (the) most

Definition

Formal adverb meaning 'at most' — sets an upper limit on a number or amount, as in "至多六个小时" (at most six hours).

adverb
at (the) most

Examples

  • 至多。
    Wǒ měi tiān zhì duō shuì liù gè xiǎo shí.
    I sleep at most six hours a day.
  • 至多。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì zhì duō néng dé jiǔ shí fēn.
    You can get at most 90 points on this exam.
  • 至多。
    Tā zhì duō zài děng shí fēn zhōng jiù zǒu le.
    He'll wait at most ten more minutes and then leave.

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.

至zhìmost
多duōmuch

至 (most) and 多 (much) together mean the greatest amount allowed.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

至 is drawn as an arrow stuck into the ground.

Open 至 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

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