Definition

1. Adverb:
   • At least, at the very least: Used to indicate the minimum amount, degree, or number, often to emphasize that something is the smallest or most basic acceptable or expected level.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Chí ít anh cũng nên gọi điện cho cô ấy. (You should at least call her.)
  • Chí ít chúng ta cũng đã cố gắng hết sức. (At the very least, we tried our best.)
  • Hãy đợi chí ít là ba ngày. (Wait for at least three days.)

Advanced Usage

• "chí ít thì...": Used to introduce a mitigating or concessive statement, often translating to "at least..." or "if nothing else...".
  • Công việc khó, nhưng chí ít thì lương cao. (The job is difficult, but at least the salary is high.)
• "dù sao đi nữa, chí ít...": A structure meaning "whatever happens, at least...".
  • Dù sao đi nữa, chí ít chúng ta vẫn còn nhau. (Whatever happens, at least we still have each other.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ít nhất: The most common and direct synonym for "at least". It is more neutral and frequent in everyday speech.
  • Ít nhất tôi đã hoàn thành bài tập. (At least I finished the homework.)
• Tối thiểu: Means "minimum" or "at a minimum", often used in more formal or quantitative contexts.
  • Anh ấy cần tối thiểu năm triệu đồng. (He needs a minimum of five million dong.)

Synonyms

• Tối thiểu: minimum.
• Cũng phải: also must/have to (used to express a minimal obligation: "you also have to...").

Related Phrases

• Dù gì đi chăng nữa: No matter what (often used before a concessive point introduced by ).
  • Dù gì đi chăng nữa, chí ít cô ấy đã xin lỗi. (No matter what, at least she apologized.)
• Thà rằng... chí ít...: A structure expressing preference, meaning "It's better that... at least...".
  • Thà rằng mất tiền, chí ít còn giữ được mạng. (It's better to lose money, at least you keep your life.)

Related Idioms

• Chí ít ra: A slightly more emphatic variant of , with the same meaning.
  • Chí ít ra anh ta cũng thành thật. (At the very least, he is honest.)

1. At least, at the very least