When you want to express "at least" or "at the very minimum" in Korean, you can use 최소한. It's an adverb, so it often modifies verbs or adjectives to indicate a minimum condition or amount.
For example, if you want to say "You should eat at least three meals a day," you would use 최소한. It's a very practical word to know when discussing quantities, requirements, or expectations.
Think of it as setting a floor for something, ensuring that a certain level or amount is met.
Hello learners! Today, we're going to dive into a very useful Korean word: 최소한 (choesohan). This word is super common and will help you express yourself more clearly when you need to talk about minimums or essentials. Let's get started!
§ What does 최소한 mean?
- Korean Word
- 최소한 (choesohan)
- Word Type
- Adverb
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- At least; at the very minimum.
Basically, 최소한 is used when you want to say 'at least' or 'at the very minimum' in a sentence. It sets a lower limit or a basic requirement. Think of it as emphasizing the absolute lowest amount or condition something needs to meet.
§ How to use 최소한 in sentences
As an adverb, 최소한 usually comes before the verb or the part of the sentence it modifies. It doesn't typically require any special particles when used in its adverbial form. It's quite flexible!
§ Basic Usage: Setting a Minimum Quantity or Time
You'll often hear 최소한 used when discussing minimum numbers, amounts, or periods of time. It's about setting a baseline.
최소한 두 시간은 공부해야 해요.
Translation: You should study for at least two hours.
이 프로젝트는 최소한 세 명이 필요해요.
Translation: This project needs at least three people.
§ Expressing Minimum Conditions or Requirements
최소한 can also be used to talk about the minimum conditions or requirements for something to happen or be acceptable.
최소한 전화라도 해 줘.
Translation: At least give me a call.
음식은 최소한 따뜻해야지.
Translation: The food should at least be warm.
§ When Expressing Opinions or Expectations
You can also use 최소한 when giving an opinion or stating an expectation about what should be the basic standard.
최소한 노력은 해봐야죠.
Translation: You should at least try.
그 정도 실수는 최소한 안 했어야지.
Translation: You shouldn't have made at least that kind of mistake.
§ Things to remember about 최소한
It's an adverb: This means it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. It doesn't change form.
Placement: Generally, it comes before the word or phrase it's emphasizing as a minimum. It can often be at the beginning of a clause for emphasis.
Context is key: While it always means 'at least' or 'at minimum,' the specific nuance will depend on the rest of the sentence. Is it a requirement? An expectation? A simple statement of fact?
Practice using 최소한 in your daily Korean conversations. Try to think about situations where you would say 'at least' in English and then try to translate those into Korean. You'll find it's a very versatile word!
Let's learn about the Korean word 최소한 (choesohan). This word is really useful for expressing a minimum requirement or condition. You'll hear it a lot in everyday conversations, whether you're at work, school, or just listening to the news. It means 'at least' or 'at the very minimum'.
§ What does 최소한 mean?
- Definition
- At least; at the very minimum.
§ 최소한 in action: Work situations
In a work environment, 최소한 is often used to discuss deadlines, performance, or requirements. It helps to set clear expectations.
When talking about completing tasks:
이 프로젝트는 최소한 세 명의 팀원이 필요해요.
Translation hint: This project needs at least three team members.
Setting a minimum for sales or goals:
오늘 최소한 다섯 건의 계약을 성사시켜야 합니다.
Translation hint: We need to close at least five contracts today.
§ 최소한 in school settings
At school, 최소한 is often used by teachers to describe requirements for assignments, attendance, or grades.
Regarding attendance:
시험에 합격하려면 최소한 70점을 받아야 합니다.
Translation hint: To pass the exam, you need to get at least 70 points.
For assignments:
보고서는 최소한 5페이지 이상이어야 해요.
Translation hint: The report must be at least 5 pages long.
§ 최소한 in the news and public discourse
You'll often hear 최소한 in news reports, especially when discussing statistics, policies, or public expectations. It emphasizes the lowest possible figure or requirement.
Regarding public safety:
정부는 시민들에게 최소한의 안전 조치를 지켜달라고 요청했습니다.
Translation hint: The government asked citizens to observe at least basic safety measures.
When reporting on events:
이번 사고로 최소한 10명이 부상을 입었습니다.
Translation hint: At least 10 people were injured in this accident.
As you can see, 최소한 is a versatile word that is essential for understanding and expressing minimum requirements across various situations. Pay attention to how native speakers use it, and try incorporating it into your own Korean conversations!
Grammar to Know
Can be used with nouns to express a minimum quantity or condition. The particle ~은/는 (topic marker) or ~의 (possessive particle) can be used, but are often omitted in casual speech.
최소한 세 시간은 자야 해요. (You should sleep at least three hours.)
Can be used with verbs or adjectives in the ~어도/아야 하다/되다 (must/should) form to emphasize the minimum requirement of an action or state.
최소한 노력은 해야죠. (You should at least try.)
Can precede a sentence or clause to indicate that what follows is the bare minimum or essential point.
최소한, 저는 그렇게 생각해요. (At least, that's what I think.)
Often used in situations discussing requirements, conditions, or expectations.
이 프로젝트는 최소한 한 달은 걸릴 거예요. (This project will take at least a month.)
When used with numbers or quantities, it directly precedes them.
최소한 두 개는 필요해요. (We need at least two.)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYou pronounce '최소한' as choe-so-han. The 'oe' sound is like the 'we' in 'weigh' without the 'y' sound at the end, and 'han' is like 'han' in 'hand'.
No, '최소한' is primarily an adverb. It modifies verbs or entire clauses. If you want to use a similar meaning as an adjective, you might use '최소의' (choe-so-ui) meaning 'minimal' or 'the least amount of'.
Both '최소한' and '적어도' mean 'at least'. They are often interchangeable. However, '최소한' tends to emphasize the absolute minimum required, while '적어도' can sometimes carry a nuance of 'at least' in a more general sense or when expressing a concession. For most daily conversations, you can use them interchangeably.
Yes, a common phrase is '최소한 ~해야 한다' (choe-so-han ~hae-ya han-da), meaning 'you must do at least ~' or 'at least ~ should be done'. For example, '최소한 30분은 운동해야 해요' (choe-so-han sam-sip-bun-eun un-dong-hae-ya hae-yo) means 'You should exercise for at least 30 minutes'.
Absolutely! It's very common to use '최소한' when discussing minimum costs or amounts. For example, '최소한 만 원은 필요해요' (choe-so-han man won-eun pil-yo-hae-yo) means 'At least 10,000 won is needed'.
Not necessarily. While it can be used in contexts where something is difficult or a minimum is barely met, it can also be used in neutral or even positive contexts to state a basic requirement or a minimum achievement. For example, '최소한의 노력으로 성공했어요' (choe-so-han-ui no-ryeok-eu-ro seong-gong-haess-eo-yo) means 'I succeeded with minimal effort'.
It's quite versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings. The formality will depend more on the ending of your sentence than the word '최소한' itself. For instance, '최소한 기다려야 해요' (choe-so-han gi-da-ryeo-ya hae-yo - formal/polite) versus '최소한 기다려야 해' (choe-so-han gi-da-ryeo-ya hae - informal).
Yes, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause to set the minimum condition or requirement for what follows. For example, '최소한, 그는 거짓말은 안 했어요' (choe-so-han, geu-neun geo-jit-mal-eun an haess-eo-yo) means 'At least, he didn't lie.'
'최소한' is composed of '최소' (choe-so), meaning 'minimum' or 'least', and '-한' (-han), which is a suffix that denotes a limit or extent. So, literally, it means 'to the minimum extent'.
While the core meaning remains 'at least', in more advanced usage, it can sometimes imply a certain level of expectation or standard. For example, '최소한 이 정도는 알아야죠' (choe-so-han i jeong-do-neun a-ra-ya-jyo) means 'You should at least know this much', implying a basic expectation of knowledge.
Test Yourself 24 questions
Imagine you're planning a small get-together. Write a short message to a friend, suggesting that at least three people should come. Use '최소한'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
친구야, 우리 모임에 최소한 세 명은 왔으면 좋겠어. (Hey friend, I hope at least three people can come to our get-together.)
You need to finish a task by tomorrow. Write a short note to yourself reminding you that you should at least start it today. Use '최소한'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
내일까지 이 일을 끝내야 해. 최소한 오늘 시작해야겠다. (I need to finish this by tomorrow. I should at least start it today.)
Describe a personal goal where you aim for a minimum achievement. For example, 'I want to read at least one book a month.' Use '최소한'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
제 목표는 매일 최소한 30분 동안 한국어를 공부하는 것입니다. (My goal is to study Korean for at least 30 minutes every day.)
What is the speaker's minimum expectation for the trip if the weather is bad?
Read this passage:
이번 주말에 친구들과 여행을 갈 계획이에요. 날씨가 안 좋으면 최소한 실내 활동을 할 수 있는 곳으로 가고 싶어요. 비가 오더라도 즐거운 시간을 보내고 싶어요.
What is the speaker's minimum expectation for the trip if the weather is bad?
The passage states, '날씨가 안 좋으면 최소한 실내 활동을 할 수 있는 곳으로 가고 싶어요,' which means 'If the weather is bad, I want to go to a place where we can at least do indoor activities.'
The passage states, '날씨가 안 좋으면 최소한 실내 활동을 할 수 있는 곳으로 가고 싶어요,' which means 'If the weather is bad, I want to go to a place where we can at least do indoor activities.'
What is the speaker's minimum goal regarding job interviews?
Read this passage:
새로운 직장을 구하는 것이 쉽지 않아요. 그래도 최소한 한 달에 한 번은 면접을 보고 싶어요. 꾸준히 노력하면 좋은 결과가 있을 거라고 믿어요.
What is the speaker's minimum goal regarding job interviews?
The passage says, '그래도 최소한 한 달에 한 번은 면접을 보고 싶어요,' which translates to 'Still, I want to have at least one interview per month.'
The passage says, '그래도 최소한 한 달에 한 번은 면접을 보고 싶어요,' which translates to 'Still, I want to have at least one interview per month.'
What is the speaker's minimum exercise goal on busy days?
Read this passage:
건강을 위해서 매일 운동을 하려고 노력해요. 바쁘더라도 최소한 10분이라도 걷는 것을 목표로 하고 있어요. 작은 습관이 중요하다고 생각합니다.
What is the speaker's minimum exercise goal on busy days?
The passage states, '바쁘더라도 최소한 10분이라도 걷는 것을 목표로 하고 있어요,' meaning 'Even if I'm busy, I aim to walk for at least 10 minutes.'
The passage states, '바쁘더라도 최소한 10분이라도 걷는 것을 목표로 하고 있어요,' meaning 'Even if I'm busy, I aim to walk for at least 10 minutes.'
The sentence means: You should contact (someone) at least once a day.
The sentence means: At least read this book.
The sentence means: Can we at least eat dinner together?
Listen for how much effort was put in.
Listen for what action should have been taken.
Listen for the duration of the trip.
Read this aloud:
최소한의 예의는 지켜야지.
Focus: 최소한의 예의
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그는 최소한의 인원으로 그 일을 해냈다.
Focus: 최소한의 인원
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
최소한 한 번은 다시 생각해봐야 할 문제야.
Focus: 최소한 한 번은
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence translates to 'He exercises at least three times a week.' The word '최소한' (at least) modifies '일주일에 세 번 운동한다' (exercises three times a week).
This sentence means 'This project will take at least two months to complete.' '최소한' (at least) quantifies '두 달' (two months).
This sentence translates to 'At least a minimum effort is essential for a successful outcome.' '최소한의' (minimum, modifying '노력') is used as an adjective here.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Example
최소한 하루에 세 번은 이를 닦아야 합니다.
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비정상적이다
B1Deviating from what is normal or usual; abnormal.
비정상이다
A2To be abnormal or irregular.
에 대해서
A2Indicating the topic or subject; about, concerning.
누적되다
B1To be accumulated or added up over a period of time. It is frequently used to describe the buildup of fatigue, debt, or environmental damage.
몸살
A2General body aches and fatigue, often accompanying a cold or flu.
몸살나다
A2To suffer from body aches and fatigue, often due to a cold.
쑤시다
B1To have a dull, throbbing pain; to ache.
에취
A2Achoo! (onomatopoeia for sneezing).
급성적이다
A2To be acute or sudden (e.g., an illness).
급성이다
A2Having a rapid onset and short course; to be acute (illness).
