“sukunakutomo・ookutomo”: At Least / At Most (setting a floor or ceiling) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「少なくとも一ヶ月」「多くとも三日」 — set a floor or a ceiling (plus “to say the least”).

「少なくとも1時間はかかる」 — at least, at the very least (setting a lower bound)

To conservatively set a floor or a ceiling, Japanese uses a pair of adverbs — 「準備には少なくとも1時間はかかる (preparation takes at least an hour).」 「〜少なくとも／〜多くとも」 = at least／at most. This guide clarifies 「少なくとも (at least, a lower bound)」 and 「多くとも (at most, an upper bound),」 adds 「少なくとも」's “at least, on this point” use, and separates it from the subjective-wish 「せめて」 and the colloquial 「多くて.」

Core: 少なくとも = at least (lower bound); 多くとも = at most (upper bound)

This is a pair of adverbs setting a lower or upper bound:

①「少なくとも」 = at least, at the very least (a lower bound; quantity／degree won't fall below this):

• 完成まで、少なくとも一週間はかかるだろう (until completion, it'll take at least a week).
• 参加者は少なくとも50人はいた (there were at least 50 participants).

②「多くとも」 = at most, at the very most (an upper bound; quantity won't exceed this, more written):

• 集まったのは、多くとも20人程度だった (those gathered were at most about 20).

Also, 「少なくとも」 can mean “at least (on this point／in this respect)”:

• 少なくとも、私はそうは思わない (at least, I don't think so).

Feel: 「少なくとも」 = “however few, there's ～, at the very least ～” (lower bound); 「多くとも」 = “however many, no more than ～, at most ～” (upper bound, more written). 「少なくとも」 is also often used to “make a conservative assertion on at least one point” (少なくとも私は = at least I ～). In English: at least, at the very least／at most.

Forms & attachment

Examples in context

• この計画には、少なくとも100万円は必要だ。(This plan needs at least a million yen.)
• 少なくとも、彼が嘘をついていないことは確かだ。(At least, it's certain he isn't lying.)
• 参加できるのは、多くとも5名までです。(At most 5 people can participate.)
• 遅くとも来週には、結果が出るはずだ。(At the latest, results should be out next week.)
• せめて一言、少なくとも謝罪の言葉が欲しかった。(I wanted at least a word, at the very least an apology.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 少なくとも (at least, a lower bound)／多くとも (at most, an upper bound) — a pair, opposite in direction. This is the basic distinction. 「少なくとも」 = at least, at the very least (setting a ‘lower bound,' ‘however few, there's ～, won't fall below this'): 少なくとも1時間 (at least an hour — however few, an hour), 少なくとも50人 (at least 50). 「多くとも」 = at most, at the very most (setting an ‘upper bound,' ‘however many, no more than ～, won't exceed this'): 多くとも20人 (at most 20 — however many, no more than 20). They're opposite: 少なくとも sets a lower bound (≧), 多くとも an upper bound (≦). Test: to say “however few, there's ～, at the very least” → 少なくとも; to say “however many, no more than ～, at most” → 多くとも. (Similar: 「遅くとも = at the latest」「早くとも = at the earliest.」)

② 「少なくとも」 also has the ‘at least on this point／for me' use. This is 「少なくとも」's other use beyond a quantity lower bound. It can go at the sentence head for “at least (on some point, for me), ～ is (certain／conservatively assertible)” — stepping back to conservatively affirm one point: 少なくとも、私はそう思う (at least I think so — for me it's certain), 少なくとも、彼に悪意はなかった (at least, he had no malice — on this point one can assert). It's used to “assert conservatively at least one point when unsure of the whole.” Test: to say “at least (on this point／for me) ～ is certain” → 少なくとも (at the sentence head).

③ Separate it from 「せめて」 — 少なくとも is an objective lower bound, せめて carries a subjective wish (settling for less). Both can render as “at least,” but differ in feel. 「少なくとも」 = at least (objectively setting a lower bound, stating a fact): 少なくとも1時間はかかる (it takes at least an hour — objectively stating a lower bound). It's an objective, neutral “however few, there's ～.” 「せめて」 = at least, at the very least (with a subjective wish, the hope of ‘settling for less'): せめて電話くらいしてほしい (I wish you'd at least call — with the hope “even if not all, at least ～”), せめて一目だけでも会いたい (I want to meet, if only for a glance). It carries a subjective wish, regret, concession (wishing for more, but at least ～). Difference: 「少なくとも」 = objectively setting a lower bound (however few, there's ～, stating a fact); 「せめて」 = an “at least” with a subjective wish (settling for less, hoping for at least ～). Test: to objectively say “at least there's ～, the floor is ～” → 少なくとも; to say with a wish “(even if not all,) I wish for at least ～” → せめて.

④ 「多くとも」 is more written; colloquially one uses 「多くて／せいぜい.」 「多くとも」 is a more written, formal “at most”; colloquially, for “at most, at best,” 「多くて」「せいぜい」 are more common: 来るのは多くて5人だろう (at most about 5 will come — colloquial), せいぜい1万円くらいだ (at most about 10,000 yen). Test: for a written “at most” → 多くとも; for a colloquial “at most, at best” → 多くて／せいぜい. (「少なくとも」 is common in both speech and writing.)

🔄 Compare: 少なくとも／多くとも／せめて／せいぜい

💡 Learning tip

「〜少なくとも／〜多くとも」 = at least／at most — three points: ① a pair, opposite in direction — 少なくとも sets a lower bound (at least, however few there's ～), 多くとも an upper bound (at most, no more than ～); ②「少なくとも」 can also conservatively assert “at least on this point／for me” (少なくとも私はそう思う); ③ separate it from 「せめて (an ‘at least' with a subjective wish)」 — 少なくとも is an objective lower bound, せめて carries a wish. This pair is handy — for a conservative “it takes at least ～” use 「少なくとも,」 for “at most no more than ～” use 「多くとも」 (colloquially 「多くて／せいぜい」). To say with a wish “even if not all, I hope for at least ～,” use 「せめて,」 not 「少なくとも.」

❓ Questions you might have

Q: 「少なくとも」 and 「せめて」 are both ‘at least' — what's the difference?

The difference is ‘objectively setting a lower bound' vs ‘subjectively carrying a wish.' 「少なくとも」 = at least, at the very least (objectively setting a lower bound, stating a fact): it's an objective, neutral “however few, there's ～, won't fall below this,” mostly for estimating a quantity, degree floor: 完成には少なくとも3日はかかる (completion takes at least 3 days — objectively stating a lower bound), 少なくとも半分は終わった (at least half is done). It just objectively draws a floor, without subjective emotion. 「せめて」 = at least, at the very least (with a subjective wish, the hope of settling for less): it carries a clear subjective wish, regret, concession — “wishing for more／better, but (even if it can't be,) at least I hope for ～”: せめて声だけでも聞きたい (I want at least to hear your voice — with the hope “even just this would do”), 全部は無理でも、せめて半分は返してほしい (all is impossible, but I hope for at least half back). It's often for wishes, requests, with a “settling for less” feeling. Difference: 「少なくとも」 = objectively drawing a lower bound (however few, there's ～, stating a fact, neutral); 「せめて」 = an “at least” with a subjective wish (even if not all, I hope for at least ～, with hope, regret). Test: to objectively say “at least there's ～, the floor is ～” → 少なくとも; to say with wish, concession “(even if not all,) I hope for at least ～” → せめて. So “it takes at least 3 days” (objective floor) uses 少なくとも, “I wish you'd at least call” (with a wish) uses せめて.

Q: What's the difference between 「多くとも」 and 「多くて」?

Close in meaning (both “at most, at best”), differing in ‘register.' 「多くとも」 = at most, at the very most (more written, formal): it's a more written, solemn “at most,” mostly for formal estimates, written narration: 出席者は多くとも30名程度と見込まれる (attendees are estimated at most about 30 — written, formal). It pairs with 「少なくとも」 (少なくとも／多くとも = at least／at most), more formal in register. 「多くて」 = at most, at best (colloquial, general): it's the colloquial, everyday “at most, at best,” more casual: 来ても多くて10人くらいだよ (even if they come, at most about 10 — colloquial), 多くて週2回かな (at most twice a week I guess). Difference: 「多くとも」 more written, formal (estimates, written narration); 「多くて」 more colloquial, everyday (casual estimates). Test: for a formal, written “at most” → 多くとも; for a colloquial “at most, at best” → 多くて (or 「せいぜい」). Also, colloquially “at most” often uses 「せいぜい」 (せいぜい5人 = at most 5, often with “no more than that”). By contrast, 「少なくとも」 is common in both speech and writing, not as written-leaning as 「多くとも.」

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「完成までに、___一ヶ月は必要だ。」(At least)

(A) 少なくとも　(B) 多くとも　(C) せいぜい　(D) たかだか

Q2. 「多くとも」の意味は?

(A) At most / no more than (upper limit)

(B) At least

(C) Exactly

(D) None at all

Q3. 「少なくとも百人集まった」の意味は?

(A) At least a hundred people gathered (lower limit)

(B) At most a hundred people

(C) Exactly a hundred people

(D) Fewer than a hundred people

Q4. 「少なくとも悪気はなかった」の意味は?

(A) At the very least / to put it conservatively, there was no ill intent

(B) There was definitely ill intent

(C) Full of ill intent

(D) Unclear whether there was ill intent

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) 多くとも三日で終わる。　(B) 多くとも三人は必要だ(for a lower limit, use 少なくとも)。

(C) 少なくともを食べる。　(D) 少なくともだ高い。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) 少なくとも ── At least a month is needed.

2. (A) ── At most / no more than (upper limit).

3. (A) ── At least a hundred people (lower limit).

4. (A) ── At the very least / conservatively, no ill intent.

5. (A) ── 「多くとも三日で終わる」 (upper limit) is correct.