Definition
毫不 (háo bù) means 'not at all' and is used emphatically before an adjective or verb (e.g., 毫不费力 'without any effort'). Contrast with 毫无 (háo wú), which must be followed by a noun (e.g., 毫无经验 'completely lack experience'), and with 好不 (hǎo bù), which means 'very' (e.g., 好不高兴 'very happy'), not 'not'. The two look similar but are opposite in meaning.
phrase
not at allnot in the leasthardly (used to emphasize negation before an adjective or verb)
Easily confused
- 好不hǎo bùsound-alikeused before certain adjectives to indicate a high degree, equivalent to 'very' or 'extremely'
Examples
- 。Tā duì wǒ de bāngzhù háo bù gǎnjī.He was not at all grateful for my help.
- 。Zhège jìhuà háo bù qièhé shíjì.This plan is not at all practical.
- 。Tā háo bù fèilì jiù wánchéng le rènwu.He completed the task without any effort.
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