一星半点 (yī xīng bàn diǎn) — a tiny bit, a very small amount (colloquial, often in negative contexts)

Definition

An idiom meaning 'a tiny bit, a speck', almost always used in negative sentences (没有/毫不…) to emphasize that something is completely absent or negligible.

idiom
a tiny bita very small amount (colloquial, often in negative contexts)

Examples

  • 一星半点。
    Zhè jiàn shì wǒ háo yī xīng bàn diǎn huái yí dōu méi yǒu.
    I don't have the slightest doubt about this matter.
  • 一星半点。
    Tā lián yī xīng bàn diǎn xī wàng yě bú yuàn yì fàng qì.
    He won't give up even a tiny bit of hope.
  • 一星半点。
    Fáng jiān lǐ méi yǒu yī xīng bàn diǎn huī chén.
    There is not a speck of dust in the room.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

一星one star
一yīone星xīngstar
偏正Modifier + head
半点half a point
半bànhalf点diǎnpoint
偏正Modifier + head

一星, 'one star', and 半点, 'half a point', combine to mean a very small amount.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Open 星 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 八 (to divide) with 牛 (cow), showing a cow cut into two halves.

Open 半 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

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