There are some idiomatic uses of the verb in infinitive form followed by particle 도 (do). Aside from its usual meaning of eventhough it can have a special meaning of minimum of maximum when used with selective descriptive verb.
- 늦어도 (nuejeodo) – which means ‘at the latest’ aside from the direct translation meaning of even though it’s late
- 적어도 (cheokeodo) – would mean ‘at least’ aside from the direct translation even though it’s few or small.
Here are samples of its use in a sentence:
- 여기서부터 약국까지 적어도 1시간은 걸리겠어요. (Yogiseobuto yakkuk kaji cheokeodo han shikaneun keollikesseoyo) From here to pharmacy it must take at least 1 hour.
- 늦어도 7시까지는 학교에 들어 가야 하거든요. (Neujeodo ilgop shikkajineun hakyeoe duero kaya hageodeunyo) We have to return to school by 7 o’clock at the latest.
It Started with Hangul 