毫厘 (háo lí) — the least bit; an iota; a tiny amount or margin

Definition

Literary noun for an extremely tiny amount or margin — almost always used in the fixed phrase 毫厘之差 or the saying 失之毫厘，谬以千里. Don't use it for ordinary 'a little'; say 一点 or 一些.

noun
the least bitan iotaa tiny amount or margin

Examples

  • 毫厘。
    Tā de jì suàn háo lí bú chà.
    His calculation is not off by a hair.
  • 毫厘。
    Zhè liǎng gè fāng àn zhǐ yǒu háo lí zhī chà.
    There is only the slightest difference between these two plans.
  • 毫厘，。
    Shī zhī háo lí, miù yǐ qiān lǐ.
    A small error at the start can lead to a huge mistake later.

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.

毫háotiny unit
厘lítiny unit

毫 and 厘 are tiny units, so together they mean the smallest amount or margin.

Characters in this word

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

The written form 毫 is built from 高 and 毛.

Open 毫 →

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 釐; 厘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
里里lǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠩺
𠩺𠩺釐lí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 釐 uses 里 as its meaning part and 𠩺 as its sound part; the simplified 厘 is a later shorthand.

Open 厘 →

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