Usage patterns 最さい 低てい でも 〈 数かず 〉 at least (a certain amount/number)
This job requires at least three years of experience.
〈 人ひと 〉 は 最さい 低てい だ someone is the worst (despicable)
Cheating on her? He's the worst.
気き 分ぶん が 最さい 低てい だ to feel awful or terrible
I feel awful from my hangover.
最さい 低てい の 〈 物もの 〉 the worst kind of (thing)
This was the worst movie.
Related words 最悪 describes a situation or outcome as the worst possible, while 最低 more casually judges a person's or thing's quality as terrible.
最小 refers to the smallest in size or quantity, whereas 最低 refers to the lowest level or amount, such as price or temperature.
下限 is a formal term for the lower limit of a range, while 最低 is the everyday word for the lowest amount or level.
最低 is the everyday word for 'worst/lowest' and can also mean 'minimum', while 最下 is a more formal, often written term for the lowest rank or position.
最低 is a native Japanese word for 'lowest/terrible' used broadly in everyday judgments, while ワースト is a katakana term specifically for rankings, records, and statistics.
Opposites· 5 best; wonderful; greatest · highest; maximum; uppermost
最低 means 'the worst' or 'lowest', the direct opposite of 最優秀 's meaning of 'the best' or 'top-ranked'.
ピカ一 calls something the very best, while 最低 calls it the very worst.
Show 2 more Show fewer 最低 means 'lowest' or 'worst', the direct opposite of 最上 in both its positional and quality senses.
最上級 refers to the highest grade or class, while 最低 refers to the lowest.
Don't confuse with 最低 means 'the lowest' or can express a negative judgment like 'terrible', whereas 最低限 neutrally refers to the necessary minimum standard.
最低 refers to the lowest rank, level, price, or quality, whereas 最少 refers strictly to the smallest count or quantity, so they overlap only loosely around 'minimum.'
最低 means 'lowest' and often carries a negative or qualitative sense (e.g. worst), whereas 最小 is neutral and refers purely to size or quantity.
Word family· 18 minimum; lowest limit · at the very least; at minimum
minimum temperature; lowest temperature; today's low
minimum amount of money; minimum sum
minimum price; floor price
minimum age
Show 6 more Show fewer minimum hourly wage
worst of the worst; despicable; extremely bad
lowest level; minimum standard; ground floor
diastolic blood pressure; minimal blood pressure
minimum wage
minimum limit; lowest degree
See all 18 in Explore →
Etymology Compound of 最 (most) and 低 (low). The meaning 'worst' developed from the literal 'lowest'.
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