Does は mean 'at least' in this sentence?


I can't catch the grammar of the following sentence

> 今なら嫉妬で100人は殺{ヤ}れますよ。

In the previous text there was no reference to 100人. What is the function of は
here? Is it a contrastive marker used instead of を?

What is the meaning of the sentence?

> Now I am so jealous that I am able to kill at least 100 men.

Am I right?




You're correct, this kind of は means "at least".

  * 3個は食べられる。 I can eat at least three.
  * ここに3人はいる。 There are at least three people here.
  * 3時間は待つ必要がある。 We have to wait at least for three hours.

Of course `number + は` does not mean "at least" in sentences like this:

  * 5個のりんごがある。3個はまだ青い。 There are five apples. Three of them are still green.
  * 10年は長い時間だ。 Ten years is a long time.




You're correct, this kind of は means "at least".

  * 3個は食べられる。 I can eat at least three.
  * ここに3人はいる。 There are at least three people here.
  * 3時間は待つ必要がある。 We have to wait at least for three hours.

Of course `number + は` does not mean "at least" in sentences like this:

  * 5個のりんごがある。3個はまだ青い。 There are five apples. Three of them are still green.
  * 10年は長い時間だ。 Ten years is a long time.

