不低于／不超过 + 数量
no less than / no more than: the floor and ceiling of a rule
Structure
主语 不低于 下限 ， 不超过 上限
What it means
No less than / no more than: the floor and the ceiling of a rule. Both include the number itself.
How it is built
Subject + 不低于 + floor，不超过 + ceiling: 公积金的缴存比例不低于5%，原则上不超过12% (The housing fund rate is no less than 5% and, as a rule, no more than 12%).
When to use it
Rules, contracts, notices and tax law; in speech say 至少 and 最多. 不少于 suits counts (不少于三人); 不低于 suits rates, levels and prices, with 不高于 as its mirror; 不超过 works for both.
Watch out
Do not read 不超过 as “less than”: 不超过400元 covers exactly 400. Plain 低于 and 超过 leave the number out: 低于5% is under 5%, but 不低于5% is 5% or more.
Examples
公积金的缴存比例不低于5%，原则上不超过12%。
The contribution rate for the housing fund is no less than 5 per cent and, as a rule, no more than 12.
全年收入不超过12万元的，可以免于补税。
Those whose income for the year is no more than 120,000 yuan need not pay a top-up.
每位乘客可以免费托运一件行李，重量不超过20公斤。
Each passenger may check in one bag free of charge, weighing no more than 20 kilos.
Learn this in Lesson 201 · HSK 7–9: 读懂工资条 (Reading your payslip)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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