上至 A,下至 B
from A at the top to B at the bottom: everyone, the whole range
Structure
上至 最高的一端 , 下至 最低的一端 ,(都/无不)…
What it means
Names the top and bottom ends of a scale (age, rank, period, price) so the statement covers everyone or everything in between.
How it is built
上至 + top end,下至 + bottom end,(subject) + 都/无不 + …: 上至白发老人,下至几岁的孩子,不少人都有两下子 (from old folk to small kids, many know a trick or two).
When to use it
Slightly formal, but heard in speech in set phrases: 上至国家领导人,下至普通百姓. 上 is the top (oldest, highest, earliest) and comes first. For size use 大到…小到…; neutral is 从…到….
Watch out
A and B must be ends of one scale: ✗ 上至苹果,下至香蕉. With people, sum up with 都: ✗ 上至老人,下至孩子,喜欢杂技 ✓ …,都喜欢杂技.
Examples
这里上至白发老人,下至几岁的孩子,不少人都有两下子。
Here, from white-haired elders down to small children, plenty of people know a trick or two.
这家公司上至总经理,下至新来的实习生,每天都在同一个食堂吃饭。
In this company everyone from the general manager down to the newest intern eats in the same canteen every day.
这座博物馆的藏品上至商周,下至明清,跨越了三千多年。
The museum’s collection runs from the Shang and Zhou down to the Ming and Qing, spanning more than three thousand years.
Learn this in Lesson 239 · HSK 9+: 吴桥杂技 (The acrobats of Wuqiao)
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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