chí ít
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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.)
- At least, at the very least