Definition

Adverb: - At least; at the minimum: Used to indicate the smallest possible amount, number, or degree that is acceptable or required. It sets a lower limit or baseline for something.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Chí thiểu phải có ba người mới bắt đầu dự án được. (At least three people are required to start the project.)
  • Anh ấy nói chí thiểu cần hai triệu đồng cho chi phí. (He said a minimum of two million VND is needed for the expense.)
  • Hãy đợi chí thiểu là mười phút nữa. (Please wait for at least ten more minutes.)

Advanced Usage

• Used for emphasis on a non-negotiable minimum: Often used in formal or assertive contexts to stress that the stated amount is the absolute lowest acceptable threshold.
  • Chí thiểu phải đạt 50 điểm để qua môn. (You must score a minimum of 50 points to pass the subject.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tối thiểu (Adjective/Adverb): Minimum; minimal. This is a more common synonym in modern Vietnamese.
  • Mức lương tối thiểu (minimum wage)
• Ít nhất (Adverb Phrase): At the very least. A more casual and frequently used equivalent.

Synonyms

• Tối thiểu: Minimum.
• Ít nhất: At least.
• Tối thấp: Lowest (often for levels or grades).

Notes on Usage

• Formality: is considered more formal and literary than its synonym . It is often found in written documents, formal requests, or assertive speech.
• Position in Sentence: Typically placed before the verb phrase or the numerical quantity it modifies.
• Nuance: Carries a nuance of insistence on the baseline requirement, sometimes implying that more would be better or acceptable, but not less.