顶多 (dǐng duō) — at most, at best | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Sets a maximum upper limit ('at most / at best'), the opposite of 至少 ('at least'). Often implies a conservative, worst-case estimate.

adverb

at mostat best

顶多。
Tā dǐng duō néng bèi yì bǎi gè dān cí.
He can memorize at most one hundred words.
顶多，。
Zhè ge píng guǒ dǐng duō liǎng kuài qián, hěn pián yi.
This apple is at most two yuan, very cheap.
顶多，。
Wǒ dǐng duō děng wǔ fēn zhōng, rán hòu jiù zǒu.
I'll wait at most five minutes, then I'll leave.

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.

顶dǐngtop/maximum

多duōmuch/many

“顶” gives the idea of the highest point, and “多” means much; together they express the greatest possible amount.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頂; 顶 is its simplified writing.

丁頁頂

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yèhead

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

Same sound today

The traditional form 頂 pairs 頁, meaning head, with 丁, which supplies the sound; the simplified 顶 is a later abbreviation.

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.

Appears in