maximum
maximum — 形容詞
- maximumpositive
- more maximumcomparative
- most maximumsuperlative
1. describing an amount, level, or number that is as big as the rules, the situatio
最高
表示數量或程度上限的
describing an amount, level, or number that is as big as the rules, the situation, or the physical space allows — nothing can be bigger than this.
The maximum speed on this road is forty miles per hour.
這條路的最高時速是四十英里。
maximum + noun: the highest possible speed/temperature/weight
Saira lifted the maximum weight allowed for her age group at the competition.
Saira 在比賽中舉起了她年齡組別允許的最高重量。
The oven's maximum temperature reaches five hundred degrees Celsius.
這台烤箱的最高溫度可達攝氏五百度。
This suitcase has a maximum capacity of twenty-three kilograms.
這個行李箱的最高容量是二十三公斤。
Drivers must check the maximum height limit before entering the tunnel.
駕駛人在進入隧道前必須確認最高高度限制。
- greatest
more general than 'maximum'; 'greatest' can describe size, importance, or intensity while 'maximum' specifically refers to an upper limit
- highest
used for concrete measurements like temperature, speed, or rank; 'highest temperature' and 'maximum temperature' are interchangeable
- utmost
more formal and intense than 'maximum'; suggests the absolute extreme possible ('utmost care' vs 'maximum care')
- top
informal alternative; 'top speed' is common in everyday speech but less formal than 'maximum speed'
- minimum
the smallest amount or number possible or allowed
文法句型
maximum + noun (the thing that has an upper limit)
用法筆記
Always placed directly before the noun it describes. Do not use after a number — for that meaning, use the adverb sense instead.
常見錯誤
maximum — 副詞
1. placed after a stated number or amount to say that this figure represents the up
至多
放在數值後表示上限
placed after a stated number or amount to say that this figure represents the upper limit — the real number could be the same or lower.
The repair will cost two hundred dollars maximum.
這項維修費用至多兩百美元。
amount + maximum: indicates the upper bound of a cost or count
We need ten volunteers maximum for the school science fair.
學校科學展至多需要十位志工。
The waiting time for a table is thirty minutes maximum on weekdays.
平日等候餐桌的時間至多三十分鐘。
Each guest can bring one friend maximum to the dinner party.
每位客人參加晚宴至多可攜伴一人。
The airport minibus carries twelve passengers maximum, so the team booked two of them.
機場小巴至多可搭載十二名乘客，所以團隊預訂了兩輛。
- at most
the full prepositional phrase equivalent; 'at most' is more formal and can go before the amount ('at most five people') or after ('five people at most')
- at the outside
informal British expression; 'It'll take an hour at the outside' means the same as 'an hour maximum'
- at least
used after a number to show it is the lowest possible figure; the opposite of 'maximum' as an adverb
文法句型
number/amount + maximum
用法筆記
This use is always postpositive — it follows the amount, never precedes it. The meaning is the same as 'at most'. Common in pricing, time estimates, and capacity limits.
常見錯誤
maximum — 名詞
- maximumsingular
- maximumsplural
1. the greatest size, number, or degree that something can reach or be allowed to r
最大值
可能或允許的最大數值
the greatest size, number, or degree that something can reach or be allowed to reach in a particular situation.
The thermometer reached a maximum of forty-two degrees yesterday.
昨天溫度計達到了攝氏四十二度的最大值。
reach a maximum of + number: used for temperatures, costs, or speeds
Hamza tried to borrow the maximum that the bank would lend him for the house.
Hamza 試圖借到銀行願意借給他的最高額度。
The stadium holds a maximum of fifty thousand spectators for concerts.
這座體育場舉辦演唱會時最多可容納五萬名觀眾。
Never exceed the maximum written on the back of the medicine bottle.
絕對不要超過藥瓶背面標示的最大值。
The professor set a maximum of fifteen pages for the final essay.
教授規定期末報告的頁數上限為十五頁。
- limit
broader term that can refer to either the upper or lower boundary; 'maximum' always means the upper boundary
- ceiling
more formal and often used for official or legal upper limits, especially in finance ('a ceiling on rent increases')
- cap
informal; common in business and government contexts for a fixed imposed limit ('a cap on carbon emissions')
文法句型
a/the maximum of + number
exceed/reach the maximum
用法筆記
When followed by a number, use the pattern 'a maximum of + number' ('a maximum of 20 people'). When the reference is clear from context, 'the maximum' alone is sufficient ('the thermometer reached its maximum').