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起码 (qǐ mǎ) — (adjective) minimum; minimal; at the very least

Definition

Adjective meaning 'minimum, basic' — the lowest acceptable level (起码的安全意识 'basic safety awareness'). It is stronger than the adverb 至少 ('at least'), which is more common when stating a floor for numbers or actions.

adjective
minimumminimalat the very least

Examples

  • 起码，。
    Zhè shì qǐ mǎ de lǐ mào, nǐ yīng gāi zuò dào.
    This is the minimum politeness — you should manage it.
  • 起码。
    Tā lián qǐ mǎ de ān quán yì shí dōu méi yǒu.
    He doesn't even have the most basic safety awareness.
  • 起码。
    qǐ mǎ De lǐ jiě shì hé zuò de jī chǔ.
    At least a minimum understanding is the basis for cooperation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

起qǐstart from
码mǎnumber/mark

起码 comes from 起 as 'start from' and 码 as 'number or mark', pointing to the starting number, the very 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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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 碼; 码 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone; rock
Sound part声符shēngfú
馬
馬mǎ碼mǎ
Same sound today

The traditional form 碼 pairs 石 (stone) with 馬 for its sound; the simplified 码 is a later shorthand.

Open 码 →
Appears in
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