Usage note
至少表示最少的数量或要求。
zhì shǎo biǎo shì zuì shǎo de shù liàng huò yāo qiú。
至少 means at least, the minimum amount or requirement.
Context note
至少常用于数量、时间和条件。
zhì shǎo cháng yòng yú shù liàng 、 shí jiān hé tiáo jiàn。
It is often used with quantity, time, and conditions.
5 examples
至少要写五个字。
zhì shǎo yào xiě wǔ gè zì。
You need to write at least five characters.
这里至少有十个人。
zhè lǐ zhì shǎo yǒu shí gè rén。
There are at least ten people here.
至少等一小时。
zhì shǎo děng yì xiǎo shí。
Wait for at least one hour.
我们至少要试一试。
wǒ men zhì shǎo yào shì yi shì。
We should at least try.
至少今天先完成一半。
zhì shǎo jīn tiān xiān wán chéng yí bàn。
At least finish half today first.
5 mini stories
他至少做对了三题。
tā zhì shǎo zuò duì le sān tí。
He got at least three questions correct.
这条路至少要走二十分钟。
zhè tiáo lù zhì shǎo yào zǒu èr shí fēn zhōng。
This road takes at least twenty minutes to walk.
至少把房间整理一下。
zhì shǎo bǎ fáng jiān zhěng lǐ yí xià。
At least tidy the room a bit.
老师说至少要读两遍。
lǎo shī shuō zhì shǎo yào dú liǎng biàn。
The teacher said to read it at least twice.
这个计划至少需要一周准备。
zhè ge jì huà zhì shǎo xū yào yì zhōu zhǔn bèi。
This plan needs at least a week of preparation.
Mini dialogue
吃水果
A
你每天至少吃一个苹果吗？
Nǐ měitiān zhìshǎo chī yī gè píngguǒ ma?
Do you eat at least one apple every day?
B
是的，妈妈说至少要吃一种水果。
Shì de, māma shuō zhìshǎo yào chī yī zhǒng shuǐguǒ.
Yes, mom says I should eat at least one kind of fruit.
读书时间
A
我们至少读十分钟书，好吗？
Wǒmen zhìshǎo dú shí fēnzhōng shū, hǎo ma?
Let's read for at least ten minutes, okay?
B
好，至少读完这个小故事。
Hǎo, zhìshǎo dú wán zhège xiǎo gùshi.
Okay, at least finish reading this short story.
Related words and contrasts
similar
最少
zuì shǎo
the least; minimum
Both express a minimum amount.
opposite
最多
zuì duō
at most; maximum
至少 means at least, 最多 means at most.
similar
起码
qǐ mǎ
at the very least; minimum
起码 is more casual and often used in speech.