Definition
毫 is a measure word with two main uses: as a metric prefix meaning 'milli-' (one thousandth, in units like 毫米 'millimeter', 毫克 'milligram') and as a standalone quantifier meaning 'a tiny bit' or 'the least', usually in negative constructions (毫不在意 'not care at all', 毫无道理 'completely unreasonable'). In negative contexts 毫 emphasizes 'not even a little'. Note that 毫 also appears in the compound 一丝一毫 ('the slightest bit') and is a noun meaning 'fine hair' or 'writing brush' in other senses—those noun uses are not part of this measure-word entry.
measure word
one thousandth (used in metric units)a tiny bitthe least (used in negative expressions as intensifier)
Examples
- 。Tā duì zhè jiàn shì háo bù zhīqíng.He knows nothing at all about this matter.
- 。Shíyàn yāoqiú jīngquè dào yì sī yì háo.The experiment requires accuracy down to the tiniest bit.
- 。Zhè tiáo chóngzi zhǐ yǒu wǔ háo mǐ cháng.This worm is only five millimeters long.
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