3 different ways of saying "minimum"

[spacemana210_227065]

There appears to be 3 different ways to use the word minimum. On Daum dictionary, all three words seem to be interchangeable. In interest of being as precise as possible, can somebody please explain the main difference between the three?

1) 최저

최저의 [가장 낮은]
the lowest／[최소한의] minimum.
경비를 최저한으로 줄이다
cut expenses to a minimum[to the bone].
한 달에 최저 5만 원의 경비가 들 것이다
It will cost at least[cost an absolute minimum of] fifty thousand won a month.
그는 최저의 인간이다
He is the meanest man I have ever met.

2) 최소

She also did some exercise at least three times a week.
일주일에 최소 세 번 운동도 했대.
관련예문
At the very least, it seems like he wants to get to know you.
최소한, 카일은 너를 알고 싶은 것 같긴 해.
The list looked into countries with populations of at least 1 million.
이 순위는 인구가 최소한 백만 명인 나라들을 살펴보았습니다.
My initial plan was to read at least 10 books! 발음 듣기
내 원래 계획은 최소한 10권은 읽는 거였어!
My original plan was to study for at least five hours a day. 발음 듣기
원래 계획은 하루에 최소 5시간 동안 공부를 하는 거였어.

3) 최하

the lowest; the most inferior; the worst.
최하의
the lowest／the worst.
최하의 가격
the lowest[minimum] price.
네 명의 소년들은 모두 수학을 못하는데 그 가운데서도 그가 최하였다
The four boys were all bad at mathematics, but he was the worst.
최하로 싸게 해서 얼마입니까
What is the very lowest price you will go down to?
그것이 최하로 깎은 값입니다
That's the lowest (price) I can let it go for.

[community.korean]

Hi there,

1) 최저
This one is mostly used to mean lowest.
Ex) 최저기온 lowest temperature

2) 최소
This one means at least.
Ex) She exercised at least three times a week. 그녀는 일주일에 최소 세 번 운동했다.

3) 최하
This one is used to mean lowest, worst.
Ex) 나는 오늘 최하 점수를 받았다. I got the worst(lowest) score today.

Thanks,
Claire
Team KoreanClass101.com