<p>They are almost the same and are interchangeble in most circumstances. Maybe the only difference is that "至少" is more formal than "起码” and is more common in written expression.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-25T14:22:58.810Z
2013-06-26T07:24:47.993Z
2013-06-26T07:24:47.993Z
zmx
<p>Both 起碼 and 至少 mean "minimum" and "least". They both can be used either as adjectives or as adverbs.</p>

<p>最起碼 is valid, but because 至 means 最. 最至少 is invalid (just like "the least least" and  "the most least" are invalid).</p>

<p>至少 has a rarely-used meaning of "very less", which can not be replaced by 起碼.</p>

<p>至少 is a little more formal than 起碼. But in the legal documents, 以上 ("equals to or more than") is more widely used.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-25T14:55:29.740Z
+1 for pointing out the difference between 起碼 and 至少. But I don't agree with `起碼 is as formally (informally) as 至少. 以上 is more formally than the two.` Though I have no statistical evidence now, I personally believe 至少 is used much more in official documents than 起碼. Moreover, 以上 means **more than**, but 至少 means **at least**, they are not of the same meaning.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-25T15:15:54.180Z
@Stan I admit my mistake. But to point out, 以上 means **equals to or more than**. They are the same if you are comparing numbers. （中華民國刑法第十條第一款：稱以上、以下、以內者，俱連本數或本刑計算。）（中华人民共和国刑法第九十九条：本法所称以上、以下、以内，包括本数。）
johnchen902
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-25T15:40:30.940Z
Yep, that's right XD I almost forget it.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-25T18:48:45.080Z
I too have no statistical evidence but I would say 起码 is not a formal word to use for news broadcast or official documents, at least in mainland China.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-26T04:13:17.160Z
最起碼 is not a legal term at all. It's used in common speech, not *just* in law.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-26T06:02:42.597Z
@deutschZuid: johnchen902 didn't mean that. Chinese often misuse English words like this XD He had intended to say "最起碼 is acceptable".
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-25T14:37:11.180Z
2013-06-26T18:58:36.670Z
2013-06-26T18:58:36.670Z
johnchen902
<p>"至少" accents on the <em>amount</em>, for example, "我想这人至少五十了",
and "起码" accents on the <em>thing</em>, for example, "吃饭前起码完成一半工作".</p>

<p>But they are always OK to exchange each other. But there is still a very very very little difference on emotion, "至少" has the meaning of "Absolutely", and used for accurate description or certain emotion, and "起码" has the emotion of pray for something, or contentment.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-10T19:41:36.983Z
2016-06-10T19:58:28.470Z
2016-06-10T19:58:28.470Z
a_a
<p>nciku.com states that 起码 is an adjective meaning "minimum" and 至少 is an adverb meaning at least； but the examples seem to use both words interchangeably.  Is one more colloquial than the other? Or is one used only for numerical amounts( It should cost at least $10) and the other for concepts/situations such as "At least the bus isn't late"?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-26T07:42:56.297Z
Just to add that 起码 is an informal and imprecise word. That is why sometimes 最起码 is used.
杨以轩
<word-choice><difference>
What is the difference between 起码 and 至少？
# What is the difference between 起码 and 至少？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-06-25)

nciku.com states that 起码 is an adjective meaning "minimum" and 至少 is an adverb meaning at least； but the examples seem to use both words interchangeably. Is one more colloquial than the other? Or is one used only for numerical amounts( It should cost at least $10) and the other for concepts/situations such as "At least the bus isn't late"?

**Tags:** word-choice, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Just to add that 起码 is an informal and imprecise word. That is why sometimes 最起码 is used.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-06-25. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

They are almost the same and are interchangeble in most circumstances. Maybe the only difference is that "至少" is more formal than "起码” and is more common in written expression.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-06-25. Score: 4

Both 起碼 and 至少 mean "minimum" and "least". They both can be used either as adjectives or as adverbs.

最起碼 is valid, but because 至 means 最. 最至少 is invalid (just like "the least least" and "the most least" are invalid).

至少 has a rarely-used meaning of "very less", which can not be replaced by 起碼.

至少 is a little more formal than 起碼. But in the legal documents, 以上 ("equals to or more than") is more widely used.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: +1 for pointing out the difference between 起碼 and 至少. But I don't agree with `起碼 is as formally (informally) as 至少. 以上 is more formally than the two.` Though I have no statistical evidence now, I personally believe 至少 is used much more in official documents than 起碼. Moreover, 以上 means **more than**, but 至少 means **at least**, they are not of the same meaning.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 I admit my mistake. But to point out, 以上 means **equals to or more than**. They are the same if you are comparing numbers. （中華民國刑法第十條第一款：稱以上、以下、以內者，俱連本數或本刑計算。）（中华人民共和国刑法第九十九条：本法所称以上、以下、以内，包括本数。）  
> **username_4**: Yep, that's right XD I almost forget it.  
> **username_5**: I too have no statistical evidence but I would say 起码 is not a formal word to use for news broadcast or official documents, at least in mainland China.  
> **username_6**: 最起碼 is not a legal term at all. It's used in common speech, not *just* in law.  
> **username_4**: @username_6: username_3 didn't mean that. Chinese often misuse English words like this XD He had intended to say "最起碼 is acceptable".  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-06-10. Score: 0

"至少" accents on the *amount*, for example, "我想这人至少五十了",
and "起码" accents on the *thing*, for example, "吃饭前起码完成一半工作".

But they are always OK to exchange each other. But there is still a very very very little difference on emotion, "至少" has the meaning of "Absolutely", and used for accurate description or certain emotion, and "起码" has the emotion of pray for something, or contentment.


---

