A2 adjective 2 min read

최저

최저 means the lowest or minimum level of something.

choejeo
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

최저 means the lowest. You use it for numbers or prices. For example, the lowest price is 최저가. It is easy to remember because it is the bottom!

When you talk about the minimum, you say 최저. It is used for things like minimum wage or the lowest temperature of the day. It helps you describe limits clearly.

The term 최저 is essential for discussing statistics and standards. It functions as a superlative, indicating the floor of a range. Whether you are discussing economic policy or weather patterns, it provides the necessary precision to define the minimum boundary.

In professional settings, 최저 is used to denote the lower bound of a variable. It is standard in business to discuss 최저임금 (minimum wage) or 최저가 (lowest price). Understanding this word helps you navigate formal Korean communications regarding contracts and data.

At an advanced level, 최저 is used to analyze trends and thresholds. It represents the nadir of a dataset. You might use it in academic writing to discuss the minimum requirements for a study or the lowest point in a historical economic cycle, demonstrating a high command of quantitative vocabulary.

Mastery of 최저 involves understanding its role in contrastive analysis. It is the antonym of 최고 (highest) and serves as the anchor point for all comparative scales in Korean. Its usage extends into legal and technical discourse, where defining the 'minimum' is critical for clarity and compliance.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means the lowest or minimum.
  • Used for values, prices, and temperatures.
  • Antonym is 최고 (highest).
  • Essential for professional and daily life.

When you hear the word 최저, think of the absolute bottom of a scale. It is a very common Korean word used to describe the minimum or lowest point of anything, whether it is money, weather, or performance.

Imagine you are looking at a thermometer on a cold winter day. The number that shows the coldest point is the 최저 기온 (minimum temperature). It is not just a small number; it is the limit of how low things have gone. It helps us understand boundaries in our daily lives.

The word 최저 is a Sino-Korean term derived from the Hanja characters 最 (choe), meaning 'most' or 'best,' and 低 (jeo), meaning 'low.' When combined, they literally translate to 'most low' or 'the lowest.'

This structure is very common in Korean, where 최 is used as a prefix to create superlatives. For example, 최고 (highest) uses the same 최 prefix. Historically, these terms helped scholars categorize values and rankings in official documents, evolving into the standard vocabulary we use to describe limits today.

You will encounter 최저 most frequently in economic and scientific discussions. The most famous usage is 최저임금, which means minimum wage. It is a formal term, but it is used in casual conversation whenever people talk about work or money.

It is also used in weather forecasts to describe the 최저 기온 (lowest temperature). Unlike casual words for 'small,' 최저 carries a sense of official measurement or a hard boundary. Use it when you are being precise about a limit.

While 최저 is a technical term, it appears in several fixed expressions. 1. 최저가: The lowest price, often used in shopping. 2. 최저 수준: The minimum level or standard. 3. 최저치: The lowest recorded value. 4. 최저 생계비: The minimum cost of living. 5. 최저 한도: The minimum limit allowed.

In Korean, 최저 acts as a noun that can modify other nouns directly. It is often paired with nouns like 임금 (wage) or 기온 (temperature). Pronunciation-wise, emphasize the 'choe' sound, which is similar to the 'ch' in 'cheese' followed by a long 'o' sound.

There are no plural forms in Korean for this word, making it simple to use. Just place it before the noun you are describing to set the limit. It is a stable, reliable word that does not change its form regardless of the sentence structure.

Fun Fact

It shares the first character with '최고' (highest).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tʃoe dʒʌ/

Closest approximation to Korean sounds

US /tʃoe dʒoʊ/

Closest approximation to Korean sounds

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing 'oe'
  • Glottalizing the 'j'
  • Incorrect pitch

Rhymes With

최고 최상 최대 최후 최신

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Easy to write

Speaking 2/5

Easy to speak

Listening 2/5

Easy to hear

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

최고 낮다 수준

Learn Next

최소 최하 최대

Advanced

최저 생계비 최저가 낙찰제

Grammar to Know

Sino-Korean prefixes

최-

Noun modification

최저 + Noun

Particle usage

최저가(가) 낮다

Examples by Level

1

최저 가격입니다.

Lowest price is.

Simple noun phrase.

1

최저 기온이 낮아요.

2

최저 임금을 받아요.

3

최저 점수를 알아요.

4

최저 수준입니다.

5

최저가를 찾아요.

6

최저 한도입니다.

7

최저치입니다.

8

최저 생계비입니다.

1

최저 기온이 영하로 떨어졌습니다.

2

최저 임금 인상이 필요합니다.

3

최저가를 비교해 보세요.

4

최저 수준의 서비스를 제공합니다.

5

최저 한도를 설정하세요.

6

최저치를 기록했습니다.

7

최저 생계비를 보장해야 합니다.

8

최저 기준을 만족합니다.

1

이번 달 최저 기온은 영하 10도입니다.

2

정부는 최저 임금을 조정했습니다.

3

우리는 최저가 보상제를 운영합니다.

4

최저 수준의 안전장치를 마련하세요.

5

최저 한도에 도달했습니다.

6

최저치를 갱신하는 중입니다.

7

최저 생계비가 상승했습니다.

8

최저 기준을 엄격히 적용합니다.

1

경제 지표가 최저치를 기록하며 반등했습니다.

2

최저 임금제는 노동자의 권리를 보호합니다.

3

최저가 입찰을 통해 비용을 절감했습니다.

4

최저 수준의 품질 유지는 필수입니다.

5

최저 한도를 넘지 않도록 주의하세요.

6

최저 생계비 산정 방식이 변경되었습니다.

7

최저 기준치를 초과하는 결과가 나왔습니다.

8

최저 기온이 평년보다 낮습니다.

1

본 프로젝트는 최저 예산으로 최대 효율을 지향합니다.

2

최저 임금의 급격한 인상은 시장에 영향을 줍니다.

3

최저가 낙찰제는 공공 입찰의 기본입니다.

4

최저 수준의 도덕적 해이가 발생했습니다.

5

최저 한도 설정은 금융 안정성에 기여합니다.

6

최저치를 경신하는 기록적인 폭염이 이어집니다.

7

최저 생계비 보장은 사회 복지의 근간입니다.

8

최저 기준 준수는 법적 의무입니다.

Common Collocations

최저 임금
최저 기온
최저가
최저 수준
최저치
최저 한도
최저 생계비
최저 기준
최저 입찰
최저 온도

Idioms & Expressions

"최저를 찍다"

To hit the lowest point

주가가 최저를 찍었습니다.

neutral

"최저 수준에 머물다"

To stay at the minimum level

성적이 최저 수준에 머물고 있습니다.

neutral

"최저가로 내놓다"

To offer at the lowest price

물건을 최저가로 내놓았습니다.

casual

"최저 한도를 두다"

To set a minimum limit

대출에 최저 한도를 두었습니다.

formal

"최저치를 경신하다"

To break the record for the lowest value

기온이 최저치를 경신했습니다.

formal

"최저 생계를 유지하다"

To maintain a minimum standard of living

최저 생계를 유지하기 어렵습니다.

neutral

Easily Confused

최저 vs 최소

Both mean 'minimum'

최저 is level/value, 최소 is quantity.

최저 기온 vs 최소 시간.

최저 vs 최하

Both mean 'lowest'

최하 is for rank/grade.

최하 등급.

최저 vs 바닥

Both mean bottom

바닥 is physical/casual.

바닥에 앉다.

최저 vs 밑

Both mean bottom

밑 is a location.

책상 밑.

Sentence Patterns

A1

최저 + noun

최저 기온이 낮아요.

A2

Subject + 최저 + noun + verb

그가 최저 점수를 받았습니다.

A2

Noun + 은/는 + 최저 + noun + 입니다.

이것은 최저가입니다.

B1

최저 + noun + 을/를 + verb

최저 임금을 확인하세요.

B2

최저 + noun + 에 + 도달하다

최저 한도에 도달했습니다.

Word Family

Nouns

최저치 Lowest value

Adjectives

최저의 Lowest

Related

최고 Antonym

How to Use It

frequency

9

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Neutral N/A

Common Mistakes

Using 최저 for 'smallest size' → 최소
최저 refers to value/level, 최소 refers to quantity/size.
Using 최저 for 'last place' → 꼴찌
최저 is for numbers/levels, 꼴찌 is for ranking.
Confusing 최저 with 최하 → Contextual
최하 is for rank/grade; 최저 is for measurable values.
Using 최저 as a verb → Noun usage
최저 is a noun/adjective, not a verb.
Misplacing the word → Before the noun
It must modify the following noun.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Visualize a basement floor.

💡

Native Usage

Use it for news and facts.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Important for wage discussions.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Always keep it before the noun.

💡

Say It Right

Clear 'oe' vowel.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use it for quantity.

💡

Did You Know?

It is a Sino-Korean word.

💡

Study Smart

Pair it with '최고'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Choe' (Most) + 'Jeo' (Low) = Most Low.

Visual Association

A graph line hitting the very bottom.

Word Web

최고 최소 최대 임금 기온

Challenge

Find the 최저 price for a coffee.

Word Origin

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: Most low

Cultural Context

None.

Equates to 'minimum' or 'lowest'.

Used in daily news reports about economy.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At work

  • 최저 임금
  • 최저 수준
  • 최저 기준

Weather report

  • 최저 기온
  • 최저 온도
  • 최저치

Shopping

  • 최저가
  • 최저가 검색
  • 최저가 보상

Data analysis

  • 최저치
  • 최저 기록
  • 최저 한도

Conversation Starters

"오늘 최저 기온이 몇 도인가요?"

"최저 임금에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?"

"최저가로 물건을 사는 팁이 있나요?"

"이번 시험 최저 점수가 몇 점인가요?"

"최저 수준의 서비스를 경험한 적 있나요?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you found the lowest price for something.

Write about why minimum wage is important.

How does the lowest temperature of the day affect your plans?

Reflect on a time you hit a personal low.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, it is for values and levels.

Yes, for the lowest height.

It is standard in both formal and neutral speech.

최고 (highest).

Put it before the noun.

No, use it as an adjective/noun.

Yes, 최저가.

Yes, very common.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

오늘 ___ 기온은 5도입니다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 최저

Temperature uses 최저.

multiple choice A2

What does 최저 mean?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Lowest

It means lowest.

true false B1

최저임금 means maximum wage.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It means minimum wage.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Matches correct terms.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

최저치를 기록했습니다.

Score: /5

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