HSK 4
Correct

至多 vs 至少

/ zhìduō vs zhìshǎo /
Strokes
https://i.cchatty2.com/filters:format(webp)/fit-in/684x0/img/202005/至多vs至少-Chinese-grammar-Cchatty-yyyy-1589851818.jpg

Formula

1
至多 + quantifier
2
至少 + quantifier
3
至多 + Verb + quantifier
4
至少 + Verb + quantifier
5
至多(只)+ Verb
6
至少(也)+ Verb
7
但至少,……

Definition

至多 and 至少 both are Adverbs, with opposite meanings,

 

至多 is equivalent to 最多, which means "at most",

 

至少 is equivalent to 最少, which means "at least".

Example

[至多 + quantifier] vs [至少 + quantifier]
至多 + quantifier 至少 + quantifier
1
hěn
niánqīng
年轻
  
,
zhìduō
至多
25
25
suì
  

She is very young, 25 years old at most.

2
Zhè
piān
wén
课文
zhìduō
至多
1000
1000
  

There are no more than 1,000 characters in the text.

3
jīng
已经
niánqīng
年轻
le
  
,
zhìshǎo
至少
40
40
suì
  

She is not young, at least 40 years old.

4
Zhè
piān
wén
课文
zhìshǎo
至少
1000
1000
  

There are no fewer than 1,000 characters in the text.

[至多 + Verb + quantifier] vs [至少 + Verb + quantifier]
至多 + Verb + quantifier 至少 + Verb + quantifier
5
Zhè
jiān
jiàoshì
教室
hěn
xiǎo
  
,
zhìduō
至多
néng
zuò
20
20
rén
  

This classroom is very small, it can hold no more than 20 people.

6
Zhè
jiān
jiàoshì
教室
hěn
  
,
zhìshǎo
至少
néng
zuò
20
20
rén
  

This classroom is very big, it can hold no fewer than 20 people.

[至多(只)+ Verb] vs [至少(也)+ Verb]
至多(只)+ Verb 至少(也)+ Verb
7
Bǎobǎo
宝宝
xiànzài
现在
hái
huì
不会
shuōhuà
说话
  
,
zhìduō
至多
  
(
zhī
  
)
huì
jiào
ma
妈妈
  

Baby can't talk now, he (she) can call mom at most.

8
bāng
le
me
那么
duō
  
,
zhìshǎo
至少
  
(
  
)
yīnggāi
应该
shuō
shēng
  xiè
谢谢
xie

He helped you a lot, you should at least say "Thank you.".

至少 can precede the subject of a sentence/clause. The structure "但至少,……" is often used in this case.
但至少,……
9
Suīrán
虽然
ba
爸爸
le
  
,
dàn
zhìshǎo
至少
  
,
shì
wéi
hǎo
你好
  

Although Dad shouted at you, but he was at least for your good.

10
huan
喜欢
méiguānxi
没关系
  
,
dàn
zhìshǎo
至少
  
,
yào
shuō
qīngchu
清楚
  

It doesn't matter that you don't like him, but you might at least talk to him.

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with 至多 or 至少:

 

1. 姚明非常高,( )两米。

2. 他对新学校的了解还很少,( )只有1/3。

3.他们认识( )三年了,可是在 一 起的时间( )三个月。

4. 周末他不想学习,( )看看小说,杂志。

5. 他很少表扬别人,( )说一声"不错"。

6. 他帮了你那么多,你( )应该说一声"谢谢" 。

7. 这些词,不会写没关系,但是( )要知道它们的意思。

8.他病得很重,如果不做手术,( )应该吃药。

Related

至少至多