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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing at most or a maximum of with 最多 (zuìduō)

    Degree & Intensity
    Numbers & Quantity

    Structure

    最多 + Number/Verb Phrase

    Explanation

    最多 (zuìduō) means "at most," "at maximum," or "no more than" and sets an upper bound on a quantity. It is placed before a number or verb phrase to indicate the highest possible amount. For example, 最多有十个 means "there are at most ten."

    Examples

    • 这个会议最多开一个小时就结束。

      Zhège huìyì zuìduō kāi yī gè xiǎoshí jiù jiéshù.

      This meeting will last at most one hour and then end.

    • 教室里最多能坐四十个人。

      Jiàoshì lǐ zuìduō néng zuò sìshí gè rén.

      The classroom can seat at most forty people.

    • 我最多再等你十分钟,不来我就先走了。

      Wǒ zuìduō zài děng nǐ shí fēnzhōng, bù lái wǒ jiù xiān zǒu le.

      I'll wait for you at most ten more minutes; if you don't come, I'll leave first.