chí thiểu
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.