# 最

| 最 | U+6700, &#26368; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6700 |
| ← 替 [U+66FF] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 朁 → [U+6701] |
| 最 | U+2F8D4, &#194772; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F8D4 |
| ← 冕 [U+2F8D3] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement | 暜 → [U+2F8D5] |

## Translingual
### Han character

最 (Kangxi radical 73, 曰+8, 12 strokes, cangjie input 日尸十水 (ASJE), four-corner 6014$_7$, composition ⿱曰⿸耳又(GJKV) or ⿱⺜⿸耳又(HT))

#### Derived characters

* 嘬, 𡡔, 𪧨, 𭕁, 𢄸, 𢢇, 𭞮, 撮, 𣋁, 𪱕, 樶, 𣠏, 𣩡, 㵊, 熶, 𤩛, 𥊴, 𥕸, 𬓙, 穝, 𥪳, 𥳣, 繓(𦈛), 𦦣, 蕞, 襊, 𨅎, 𨣅, 𨼥, 𩯉, 䴝(𱊼), 𪒙, 𪙦

### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 503, character 5
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 14301
* Dae Jaweon: page 877, character 4
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1516, character 8
* Unihan data for U+6700
* Unihan data for U+2F8D4

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 最 :
| Shang | Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) |
| Oracle bone script | Qin slip script | Small seal script |
| | Old Chinese |
| 陬 | *ʔsloː, *ʔsru, *ʔslo |
| 棷 | *ʔsloː, *sʰloːʔ, *sloːʔ, *ʔsru |
| 掫 | *ʔsloː, *ʔsruʔ, *ʔslo |
| 緅 | *ʔsloː, *ʔsru, *slos |
| 趣 | *sʰloːʔ, *sʰlos |
| 取 | *sʰloːʔ, *sʰloʔ |
| 鯫 | *zloː, *zloːʔ, *sʰlo |
| 棸 | *rlu, *rluʔ, *ʔsru |
| 鄹 | *ʔsru, *zloʔ, *ljoːnʔ |
| 郰 | *ʔsru |
| 齱 | *ʔsru, *sʰroːɡ |
| 菆 | *ʔsru, *sʰros, *zloːn |
| 箃 | *ʔsru |
| 黀 | *ʔsru |
| 驟 | *zrus |
| 最 | *zloːds |
| 襊 | *sʰoːds, *sʰoːd |
| 蕞 | *zoːds |
| 嘬 | *sʰroːds |
| 諏 | *ʔslo |
| 娵 | *ʔslo |
| 娶 | *sʰloʔ, *sʰlos, *slo |
| 聚 | *zloʔ, *zlos |
| 埾 | *zlos |
| 藂 | *zloːŋ |
| 叢 | *zloːŋ |
| 繓 | *ʔsoːd |
| 撮 | *ʔsoːd, *sʰoːd |
Originally 㝡, phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *zloːds): semantic 宀 (“roof”) + phonetic 取 (OC *sʰloːʔ, *sʰloʔ) – "to gather". Later 二 was added as distinguishing marks to disambiguate the character for the meaning "the most". The top components have corrupted into 冃 in the traditional form. These components were further corrupted into 曰 in the simplified version.

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): zuì (zui$^4$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄗㄨㄟˋ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): zui$^4$
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): zeoi$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): dui$^1$
* Gan (Wiktionary): zui$^4$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): chui
    (Hailu, HRS): zui$^ˇ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): zui$^4$
* Jin (Wiktionary): zui$^3$
* Northern Min (KCR): cuòi
* Eastern Min (BUC): có̤i
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): zue$^4$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): chòe
    (Teochew, Peng'im): zuê$^3$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^1$tsoe / $^5$tsoe / $^5$tsei / $^5$tse / $^5$tshuei / $^1$tsei
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): zei$^4$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: zuì
*** Zhuyin: ㄗㄨㄟˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: zuèi
*** Wade–Giles: tsui$^4$
*** Yale: dzwèi
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzuey
*** Palladius: цзуй (czuj)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: zui$^4$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: zui
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡suei²¹³/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: zeoi$^3$
*** Yale: jeui
*** Cantonese Pinyin: dzoey$^3$
*** Guangdong Romanization: zêu$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sɵy̯³³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: dui$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /tui³³/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: zui$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sui³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chui
*** Hakka Romanization System: zui
*** Hagfa Pinyim: zui$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡su̯i⁵⁵/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: zui$^ˇ$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sui¹¹/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: zui$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡suɪ⁵³/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: zui$^3$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡suei⁴⁵/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: cuòi
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡suɛ⁴²/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: có̤i
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sɔy²¹³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: zue$^4$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: co̍i
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡suei⁴²/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chòe
*** Tâi-lô: tsuè
*** Phofsit Daibuun: zoex
*** IPA (Xiamen): /t͡sue²¹/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sue⁴¹/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sue²¹/
*** IPA (Taipei): /t͡sue¹¹/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡sue²¹/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: zuê$^3$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsuè
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sue²¹³/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^1$tsoe
*** MiniDict: tsoe$^平$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^1$tsoe
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡sø⁵³/
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^5$tsoe
*** MiniDict: tsoe$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^2$tsoe
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡sø³⁴/
** (Northern: Chongming)
*** Wugniu: $^5$tsei
*** MiniDict: tsei$^去$
*** Sinological IPA (Chongming): /t͡sei³³/
** (Northern: Suzhou)
*** Wugniu: $^5$tse
*** MiniDict: tse$^去$
*** Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /t͡se⁵²³/
** (Northern: Hangzhou)
*** Wugniu: $^5$tshuei
*** MiniDict: tshuei$^去$
*** Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /t͡sʰzʷei⁴⁵/
** (Northern: Ningbo)
*** Wugniu: $^1$tsei
*** MiniDict: tsei$^平$
*** Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /t͡sɐɪ⁵²/
* Xiang
** (Changsha)
*** Wiktionary: zei$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡se̞i̯⁴⁵/
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit最 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /t͡suei⁵¹/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /t͡suei⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /t͡suei⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /t͡suei²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /t͡sue²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /t͡suei³¹²/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /t͡suei⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /t͡suɨ²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /t͡suei¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /t͡suei¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /t͡suei²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /t͡sei³⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /t͡suei¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /t͡suei²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /t͡suei²¹²/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /t͡suəi⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /t͡se⁵³/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /t͡suei⁴⁵/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /t͡suei³⁵/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /t͡suei⁵⁵/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /t͡sø³⁵/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /t͡se̞⁵¹³/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /t͡sz̩ʷei⁴⁴⁵/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /t͡sai⁴²/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /t͡ɕye³²⁴/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /t͡sə⁴²/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /t͡sei⁵⁵/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /t͡səi⁵⁵/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /t͡sui⁴⁵/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /t͡sui⁵³/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /t͡sui⁵⁵/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /t͡søy³³/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /t͡sui³³/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /t͡søy³³/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /t͡sue²¹/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /t͡sɔy²¹²/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /t͡suɛ⁴²/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /t͡sue²¹³/ |
| Min | Haikou (Hainanese) | /t͡sui³⁵/ |
* Middle Chinese: tswajH
Rime :
| Character | 最 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 精 (13) |
| Final (韻) | 泰 (26) |
| Tone (調) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Closed |
| Division (等) | I |
| Fanqie | 祖外切 |
| Baxter | tswajH |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /t͡suɑi$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /t͡sʷɑi$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /t͡suɑi$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /t͡swaj$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /t͡suɑi$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /t͡suɑi$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /t͡suɑi$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | zuì |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | zeoi$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[ts]ˤot-s/
    (Zhengzhang): /*zloːds/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 最 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | zuì |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ tswaj$^H$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*[ts]ˁot-s/ |
| English | collect; most |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 最 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 10645 |
| Phonetic component | 取 |
| Rime group | 祭 |
| Rime subdivision | 3 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 最 |
| Old Chinese | /*zloːds/ |

### Definitions

最
* most; -est
    最佳 ― zuìjiā ― optimal
* the most ... thing; the best
    世界之最 ― shìjiè zhī zuì ― world records

#### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 最, 至 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 最 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 最, 頂 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 最 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 最 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 最 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 最, 頂 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 最 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 最, 第一 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 頂 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 最 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 頂, 最 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 頂, 最 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 最, 至 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 最, 至 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 最, 至 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 至 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Shatian) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 最 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Nankang) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Yingpan) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 最 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 最 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 頂 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 最, 第一 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 盡, 最 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 最, 盡 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 最 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 盡, 最 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 最 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 頭 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 最 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 頂 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 頂, 最, 第一 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 第一, 最 |
| Eastern Min | Matsu | 第一 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 第一, 第, 一, 上 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 第一, 第, 上 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 上 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 第一, 上 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 上 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 上 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 上 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 上 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 上 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 上 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 上 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 上 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 上 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 上 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 第一 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 上 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 第, 上 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 上頂, 上 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 上, 最 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chaoyang) | 一 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 上, 上頂 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 上 |
| Southern Min | Pontianak (Teochew) | 上 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 最 |
| Southern Min | Qionghai | 最 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 最, 最最, 頂 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 頂, 最 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 頂, 頂頂 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 頂, 最 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 頂, 最 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 頂, 最 |

### Compounds

* 最上
* 最低工資 / 最低工资 (zuìdī gōngzī)
* 最佳 (zuìjiā)
* 最佳拍檔 / 最佳拍档
* 最先 (zuìxiān)
* 最初 (zuìchū)
* 最大公約數 / 最大公约数 (zuìdà gōngyuēshù)
* 最好 (zuìhǎo)
* 最小公倍數 / 最小公倍数 (zuìxiǎo gōngbèishù)
* 最少 (zuìshǎo)
* 最後 / 最后 (zuìhòu)
* 最後通牒 / 最后通牒 (zuìhòutōngdié)
* 最惠國待遇 / 最惠国待遇
* 最敬禮 / 最敬礼 (zuìjìnglǐ)
* 最為 / 最为 (zuìwéi)
* 最簡分數 / 最简分数 (zuìjiǎn fēnshù)
* 最終 / 最终 (zuìzhōng)
* 最近 (zuìjìn)
* 最速件
* 最適化 / 最适化 (zuìshìhuà)
* 最高法院 (zuìgāo fǎyuàn)
* 最高當局 / 最高当局
* 為善最樂 / 为善最乐 (wéishàn zuì lè)

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Fourth grade kyōiku kanji)
* makes superlatives, most, -est

#### Readings

* Go-on: さい (sai, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: さい (sai, Jōyō)
* Kun: もっとも (mottomo, 最も, Jōyō)、つまむ (tsumamu, 最む)、いと (ito, 最)
* Nanori: もり (mori)、かなめ (kaname)

#### Compounds
##### Common

* 最(もっと)も (mottomo)
* 最(さい)愛(あい) (saiai, “beloved”)
* 最(さい)悪(あく) (saiaku, “the worst”)
* 最(さい)下(か) (saika, “the lowest”)
* 最(さい)強(きょう) (saikyō, “the strongest”)
* 最(さい)近(きん) (saikin, “recently”)
* 最(さい)古(こ) (saiko, “the oldest”)
* 最(さい)高(こう) (saikō, “highest; supreme”)
* 最(さい)後(ご) (saigo, “last”)
* 最(さい)期(ご) (saigo, “one's last moment”)
* 最(さい)終(しゅう) (saishū, “last; final; closing”)
* 最(さい)初(しょ) (saisho, “first; beginning”)
* 最(さい)小(しょう) (saishō, “the smallest”)
* 最(さい)新(しん) (saishin, “latest; newest”)
* 最(さい)上(じょう) (saijō, “best”)
* 最(さい)善(ぜん) (saizen, “the very best”)
* 最(さい)多(た) (saita, “the most”)
* 最(さい)短(たん) (saitan, “the shortest”)
* 最(さい)大(だい) (saidai, “the greatest”)
* 最(さい)中(ちゅう) (saichū, “middlemost”)
* 最(さい)長(ちょう) (saichō)
* 最(さい)低(てい) (saitei)
* 最(さい)適(てき) (saiteki)
* 最(さい)良(りょう) (sairyō)
* 最(も)早(はや) (mohaya)
* 最(も)寄(よ)り (moyori)
* 最(さい)恵(けい)国(こく) (saikeikoku, “most favored nation”)
* 最(さい)盛(せい)期(き) (saiseiki, “golden age”)
* 最(さい)先(せん)端(たん) (saisentan, “cutting-edge”)
* 最(さい)優(ゆう)遇(ぐう) (saiyūgū)

##### Uncommon

* 最(さい)たる (saitaru)
* 最(さい)右(う) (saiu)
* 最(さい)遠(えん) (saien)
* 最(さい)外(がい) (saigai)
* 最(さい)左(さ) (saisa)
* 最(さい)深(しん) (saishin)
* 最(さい)弱(じゃく) (saijaku)
* 最(さい)前(ぜん) (saizen)
* 最(さい)速(そく) (saisoku)
* 最(さい)南(なん) (sainan)
* 最(さい)果(は)て (saihate)
* 最(さい)北(ほく) (saihoku)
* 最(さい)敬(けい)礼(れい) (saikeirei)
* 最(さい)賃(ちん)法(ほう) (saichinhō)
* 最(さい)頻(ひん)値(ち) (saihinchi)
* 最(さい)安(やす)値(ね) (saiyasune)
* 最(さい)優(ゆう)先(せん) (saiyūsen)

##### Family names

* 最里(もり) (Mori)

##### Female given names

* 最(さい)下(か) (Saika)
* 最(さい)子(こ) (Saiko)
* 最(さい)澄(ちょう) (Saichō)
* 最(さい)実(み) (Saimi), 最実(さみ) (Sami)
* 最(さい)美(み) (Saimi), 最美(さみ) (Sami)
* 最(さ)中(なか) (Sanaka)
* 最莉(さり) (Sari)
* 最愛(まな) (Mana), 最愛(もあ) (Moa), 最(も)愛(あい) (Moai)
* 最燃(もえ) (Moe)
* 最可(もか) (Moka)
* 最奈(もな) (Mona)
* 最汝(もな) (Mona)
* 最(も)萌(もえ) (Momoe)
* 瑚最(こも) (Komo)
* 夜最(やも) (Yamo)
* 最央利(さおり) (Saori)
* 最鶴生(さつき) (Satsuki)
* 最登江(さとえ) (Satoe)
* 沙妃最(さひも) (Sahimo)
* 最都子(もとこ) (Motoko)
* 都最実(ともみ) (Tomomi)

##### Place names

* 最(も)上(がみ) (Mogami)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 最
* かなめ Grade: 4

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ka̠na̠me̞]

#### Proper noun

最(かなめ) • (Kaname)
* a male given name

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 最
* さい Grade: 4

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) さい [sàí] (Heiban – [0])
* IPA: [sa̠i]

#### Proper noun

最(さい) • (Sai)
* a female given name

#### Prefix

最(さい) • (sai-)
* most, greatest

### References

* ↑ 女の子の名前辞書 - Name Catalogue (Girls only), Retrieved 6 May 2013
* ↑ 赤ちゃんの名前 好感度調査 - Baby Name Catalogue, Retrieved 6 May 2013

## Korean
### Hanja

最 (eumhun 가장 최 (gajang choe))
* hanja form of 최 (“most”)

#### Compounds

* 최고 (最高, choego, “the best”)
* 최근 (最近, choegeun, “the most recent”)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

最: Hán Nôm readings: tối, tíu, tụi, tếu
* chữ Hán form of tối (“the most; -est”).

#### Compounds

* 最優 (tối ưu)
* 最多 (tối đa)
* 最少 (tối thiểu)
* 最後書 (tối hậu thư)
* 最忌 (tối kị / tối kỵ)
* 最簡 (tối giản)
* 最高 (tối cao)