Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Minimum; minimal: The lowest possible amount, degree, or level required or acceptable. It describes the smallest or least quantity that is sufficient or allowed.
   • Bare minimum; strict essential: The absolute basic or indispensable level, with nothing less being possible or acceptable.

2. Adverb:

   • At least; at a minimum: Used to indicate the lowest limit or smallest number in a given context.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Mức lương tối thiểu sẽ tăng vào năm tới. (The minimum wage will increase next year.)
  • Bạn cần đáp ứng các yêu cầu tối thiểu để tham gia khóa học. (You need to meet the minimum requirements to join the course.)
• Adverb:
  • Hãy uống tối thiểu hai lít nước mỗi ngày. (Drink at least two liters of water per day.)
  • Tối thiểu phải có ba người đồng ý. (At a minimum, three people must agree.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in formal, legal, or technical contexts to specify lower limits, such as in regulations, contracts, or specifications.
• Often paired with verbs like "đạt" (to achieve), "cần" (to need), or "yêu cầu" (to require) to state necessary thresholds.

Variants and Related Words

• Tối đa (adj, adv): Maximum; at most. The direct opposite of "tối thiểu".
  • Tốc độ tối đa cho phép là 50 km/h. (The maximum permitted speed is 50 km/h.)

Synonyms

• Tối thiểu (adjective): Minimum, minimal, lowest, baseline.
• Tối thiểu (adverb): At least, at a minimum, no less than.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Mức tối thiểu: The minimum level/standard.
  • Sản phẩm phải đạt mức tối thiểu về chất lượng. (The product must meet the minimum quality standard.)
• Nhu cầu tối thiểu: Basic/essential needs.
  • Chính phủ hỗ trợ các nhu cầu tối thiểu. (The government supports basic needs.)

1. danh từ, tính từ minimum