故事 Story 

        一路人要去机场，他拦下一辆出租车。
        路人：师傅，从这儿到机场要多久？
        司机：要挺久的。
        路人：起码要多久？
        司机：骑马（起码）要更久！
A passenger wanted to go to the airport and hailed a cab.
He asked the driver: "How long does it take to go to the airport?"
The driver answered: "That would take a long time."
"起码要多久？(Qǐ mǎ yào duō jiǔ) (How much time will it take at least)?", said the passenger.
The driver replied: "骑马（起码）要更久(Qí mǎ yào gèng jiǔ) (It would take even longer if you ride a horse.)!"

词语注释 Note

路人：(lù rén) n. passer-by
师傅：(shīfu) n. master, general address used to call the people of certain occupations
机场：(jīchǎng) n. airport
多久：(duō jiǔ) how long
挺：(tǐng) adv. fairly, pretty, quite
起码：(qímǎ) adv. at least
骑马：(qí mǎ) n. riding a horse
更：(gèng) adv. even, more

语言点Language Point

"骑马"和"起码"这两个词发音是一样的，但是意思却完全不一样。"骑马"就是riding a horse，但是"起码"呢？
"骑马(qí mǎ)" and "起码(qímǎ)" pronounce exactly the same but their meanings are quite different. "骑马(qí mǎ)" means riding a horse, and what about "起码(qímǎ)"?

"起码"最开始是赌博用语。"码"就是筹码(jeton)，"起码"是指在一轮赌局中，赌徒们要拿出的最少赌资。后来"起码"就成了"最初、最少、最低、最小"的意思。
Originally, "起码(qímǎ)" was used in gambling. "码(mǎ)" refers to jettons, and "起码(qímǎ)" refers to the minimumamount of gamble fund to bet. Later it has extended in meaning to indicate "at least, at lowest and in minimum".

比如：
你起码要胖三十公斤才能演那个角色。
You need to put on at least 30 kg to play that role.
他们班起码有三个学生没有来。
At least three students are absent in their class.

• amount [ə´maunt]   n.总数；数量 v.合计   (初中英语单词)
• absent [´æbsənt, əb´sent]   a.不在的 vt.使缺席   (初中英语单词)
• minimum [´miniməm]   n.最小量 a.最小的   (高中英语单词)
• gamble [´gæmbəl]   v.&n.赌博；投机；冒险   (高中英语单词)
• extended [iks´tendid]   a.伸长的；广大的   (英语六级单词)