The Adverb of Scope “至少”

In Chinese, “至少” (zhìshǎo) says that a time, quantity or degree is no less than some lower limit.

How it is translated

at least at the very least

Core meaning

“至少” names the lower bound of something.

至少 + time / quantity / degree at least …

至少两个月

至少两百名留学生

家月，你来中国至少两个月了，习惯吃中餐了吗？

至少 + 两个月 at least + two months

来中国 — come to China 至少 — at least 两个月 — two months 习惯 — get used to 吃中餐 — eat Chinese food

Here “至少两个月” gives the shortest possible span: two months or more

每年至少有两百名留学生来我校学习中文专业

每年 + 至少 + 有两百名留学生 every year + at least + there are 200 international students

每年 — every year 至少 — at least 两百名 — 200 (people) 留学生 — international students 我校 — our school 学习中文专业 — major in Chinese

Here “至少两百名” gives the lower bound of the number: 200 or more

我们虽然没有见过面，但至少在网上聊过很多次，也算比较熟悉了

但 + 至少 + 在网上聊过很多次 but + at least + we have chatted online many times

虽然……但…… — although …, still … 没有见过面 — have never met in person 至少 — at least 在网上 — online 聊过很多次 — have chatted many times 也算 — you could say that … 比较熟悉 — fairly well acquainted

In this sentence “至少” reads more naturally as “at the very least” than as a bare minimum count.

Rule in brief

至少 + time / quantity / degree

“至少” marks the lower bound of something.

至少两个月

至少两百名留学生

至少在网上聊过很多次

That is: 至少 = at least / at the very least