<p>In the book 汉语国际教育用词语声调组合及轻重音格式实用手册, p.241 (which is rumored to be the post-reform HSK replacement), 至少 is classified as a <strong>副词</strong> (<a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adverb" rel="nofollow noreferrer">adverb</a>).  Furthermore, it's considered a <strong>程度副词</strong> (adverb of degree) in the book <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=yyNYDwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA135&amp;lpg=PA135&amp;dq=%E7%A8%8B%E5%BA%A6%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E8%87%B3%E5%B0%91&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=JcR0NQYqmV&amp;sig=ACfU3U1m4umJSADBgGiCblDpyAtHIVoFKQ&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwilr4DKw4zqAhVVHc0KHfV4DqcQ6AEwAnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&amp;q=%E7%A8%8B%E5%BA%A6%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E8%87%B3%E5%B0%91&amp;f=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">现代华语概论</a>.</p>
<p>In English, we might describe it as an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverbial" rel="nofollow noreferrer">adverbial</a> since it can affect a whole phrase.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-18T23:41:34.343Z
2020-06-18T23:41:34.343Z
Becky 李蓓
<ol>
<li>use it before a number/amount to indicate 'not less than' this number/amount</li>
</ol>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>至少5个人 - at least five people (no less than five)</p>
<p>至少两天 - at least two days (no less than two)</p>
<p>~</p>
<ol start="2">
<li>use it before a statement to indicate 'taking the most pessimistic or unfavorable view, the statement is still true'</li>
</ol>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>我不会做任何家務，至少我会做饭。- (although) I don't know how to do any housework, (but) at least I  know how to cook</p>
<p>可以任意殺人, 但至少不可以殺女人小孩 - (although) you can kill people at will, (but) at least you can't kill women and children</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-13T12:24:47.283Z
The  question is about which part of speech it is, not how it's used or what it means.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-13T14:19:09.237Z
So, What part of speech "at least" and  "although" belong to?
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-13T14:25:52.003Z
Yes, that's the question! I'm not a grammar expert and don't feel qualified to answer, but I just wanted to point out that your answer, while useful, is not addressing the question as it is currently worded.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-13T14:28:23.123Z
lookup "at least" in the dictionary and you would find out it is an adverb (副词), lookup although and you will find it is a conjunction (连词). Do I need to point out kill people 殺人 is a verb  phrase?
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-13T16:22:43.690Z
Sorry, I'm not sure what you are talking about, to be honest, maybe there is some misunderstanding. I merely pointed out that the question is about what part of speech the word is. If you don't like the question, maybe leave a comment under it? I didn't ask the question, though.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-18T21:24:52.307Z
2020-06-18T21:35:04.687Z
2020-06-18T21:35:04.687Z
Tang Ho
<p>From briefly looking it up in a dictionary, it seems to me that 至少 is a direct equivalent of &quot;at least&quot; in English, and as far as I can tell its placement in a sentence follows the same set of rules. For instance:</p>
<p><strong>至少</strong>我会做饭。<br/>
<strong>At least</strong> I know how to cook.</p>
<p>我看<strong>至少</strong>5个人。 <br/>
I see <strong>at least</strong> 5 people.</p>
<p>But 至少 (and &quot;at least&quot; in English) doesn't seem to adhere to any rules pertaining to where in the sentence it's allowed to be? So what part of speech would you refer to this as? An adverb? A preposition?</p>

<grammar>
What part of speech does 至少 belong to?
# What part of speech does 至少 belong to?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-18)

From briefly looking it up in a dictionary, it seems to me that 至少 is a direct equivalent of "at least" in English, and as far as I can tell its placement in a sentence follows the same set of rules. For instance:

**至少**我会做饭。  
**At least** I know how to cook.

我看**至少**5个人。   
I see **at least** 5 people.

But 至少 (and "at least" in English) doesn't seem to adhere to any rules pertaining to where in the sentence it's allowed to be? So what part of speech would you refer to this as? An adverb? A preposition?

**Tags:** grammar


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-18. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In the book 汉语国际教育用词语声调组合及轻重音格式实用手册, p.241 (which is rumored to be the post-reform HSK replacement), 至少 is classified as a **副词** ([adverb](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adverb)). Furthermore, it's considered a **程度副词** (adverb of degree) in the book [现代华语概论](https://books.google.com/books?id=yyNYDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=%E7%A8%8B%E5%BA%A6%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E8%87%B3%E5%B0%91&source=bl&ots=JcR0NQYqmV&sig=ACfU3U1m4umJSADBgGiCblDpyAtHIVoFKQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwilr4DKw4zqAhVVHc0KHfV4DqcQ6AEwAnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=%E7%A8%8B%E5%BA%A6%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E5%89%AF%E8%AF%8D%20%E8%87%B3%E5%B0%91&f=false).

In English, we might describe it as an [adverbial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverbial) since it can affect a whole phrase.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-06-18. Score: 1

1. use it before a number/amount to indicate 'not less than' this number/amount

Example:

至少5个人 - at least five people (no less than five)

至少两天 - at least two days (no less than two)

~

2. use it before a statement to indicate 'taking the most pessimistic or unfavorable view, the statement is still true'

Example:

我不会做任何家務，至少我会做饭。- (although) I don't know how to do any housework, (but) at least I know how to cook

可以任意殺人, 但至少不可以殺女人小孩 - (although) you can kill people at will, (but) at least you can't kill women and children

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: The  question is about which part of speech it is, not how it's used or what it means.  
> **username_2**: So, What part of speech "at least" and  "although" belong to?  
> **username_3**: Yes, that's the question! I'm not a grammar expert and don't feel qualified to answer, but I just wanted to point out that your answer, while useful, is not addressing the question as it is currently worded.  
> **username_2**: lookup "at least" in the dictionary and you would find out it is an adverb (副词), lookup although and you will find it is a conjunction (连词). Do I need to point out kill people 殺人 is a verb  phrase?  
> **username_3**: Sorry, I'm not sure what you are talking about, to be honest, maybe there is some misunderstanding. I merely pointed out that the question is about what part of speech the word is. If you don't like the question, maybe leave a comment under it? I didn't ask the question, though.  

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