毫 (háo) - Hair & fine down

毫Tone 2

háo ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

毫 · háo

Hair;

fine down;

writing brush;

extremely small amount;

unit of length (1/1000 Chinese inch);

not in the least.

Hairfine downwriting brush

Usage highlights

Writing brushMillimeterMilliliterNot in the leastWithout the slightestBrush tip

Synonyms

  • 毛— hair, fur (broader term)
  • 细— fine, thin (describing smallness)
  • 微— tiny, minute

Antonyms

  • 粗— thick, coarse
  • 巨— huge, enormous
  • 大— big, large

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The calligrapher dipped his brush (毫) in ink.
  • There wasn't the slightest bit (毫) of hesitation.
  • The difference is barely a millimeter (毫米).
  • He didn't feel the least bit (毫不) tired.

Collocations

  • Writing brush(毫毛)
  • Millimeter(毫米)
  • Milliliter(毫升)
  • Not in the least(毫不)
  • Without the slightest(毫无)
  • Brush tip(笔毫)

Idioms

  • Not a hair's breadth of difference(毫厘不爽)
  • Not hurt a single hair(毫发无损)
  • Not the least bit surprised(毫不奇怪)
  • Analyze minutely(明察秋毫)
  • Not the slightest deviation(毫厘不差)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to the fine hair used in writing brushes, representing precision and detail.
  • Used in measurement units (毫米, 毫升) reflecting its association with minute quantities.
  • In idioms, often emphasizes extreme precision or complete absence of something.

FAQ