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March 24, 2026
毫háo(hao2)
The character 毫 (háo) primarily refers to fine hair or a very small amount, such as one-thousandth of something. It is commonly used in contexts involving measurements, currency (0.1 yuan), and figurative expressions indicating minimal quantities or degrees.
Strokes11Radical毛Frequency#15712DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of precision in measurements, such as currency and fine quantities, is significant, reflecting the importance of accuracy in trade and daily transactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a single fine hair (毫) to remember the meaning of 'small' or 'fine'. The radical for hair (毛) is found in this character, and you can visualize a tiny fraction of something, like a hair's width, to connect it to the idea of 'one-thousandth'.
Meanings of 毫
háo(hao2)
1hair
2drawing brush
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 毫
毫Simplified
11Strokes
毛Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#15712Frequency Rank
Podcast: 毫
Podcast: 毫
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AI Study Notes for 毫
Quick Contrast
毫 (háo) vs 分 (fēn) — use 毫 for finer measurements or smaller quantities, while 分 refers to a larger unit (one-tenth) or more general divisions.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a single fine hair (毫) to remember the meaning of 'small' or 'fine'. The radical for hair (毛) is found in this character, and you can visualize a tiny fraction of something, like a hair's width, to connect it to the idea of 'one-thousandth'.
Usage Notes
When using 毫, be cautious with its formal and informal contexts. It is often paired with quantifiers like '一毫' (one-tenth) or '毫无' (not at all) to indicate quantity. Also, learners should be aware of the third tone (háo) to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Though not included in HSK levels, 毫 relates to other HSK vocabulary about measurements and quantities. Focus on using it in combination with other words to gain fluency in expressing small amounts or degrees.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of precision in measurements, such as currency and fine quantities, is significant, reflecting the importance of accuracy in trade and daily transactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 毫 (háo) with 毛 (máo), which means 'hair' but is also a unit of currency (1 yuan = 10 毛). Remember that 毫 specifically indicates a finer measure, such as one-thousandth.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 毫
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Grammar Patterns of 毫
毫 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
This was an uncharitable assessment of the reasons for the failure.
10
这丝毫不足为奇。
zhè sī háo bù zú wéi qí。
This is by no means out of the ordinary.
Cultural Notes for 毫
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of precision in measurements, such as currency and fine quantities, is significant, reflecting the importance of accuracy in trade and daily transactions.
Word Family of 毫
Words Containing This Character19
毫无háowúnot in the least毫無
毫无疑问certainty毫無疑問
毫háohair
丝毫sīháoa bit絲毫
毫不háobùhardly
毫不犹豫háobùyóuyùwithout the slightest hesitation毫不猶豫
毫米háomǐmillimeter
毫升háoshēngmilliliter
毫发a hair毫髮
毫不留情ruthless
毫克milligram
分毫fraction
毫不客气no trace of politeness毫不客氣
一丝一毫an iota一絲一毫
毫毛hair
毫不费力effortless毫不費力
挥毫to write揮毫
毫秒millisecond, ms
明察秋毫omniscient
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 毫无 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 毫
毫 (háo) and 分 (fēn) are both units of measurement in Chinese, but they represent different scales. 毫 is one thousandth of a unit, often used in contexts like currency or precision measurements, while 分 is one tenth of a unit, commonly used in everyday currency and other measurements.
毫 (háo) has several meanings in Chinese. It can refer to 'hair' or 'drawing brush,' and it is also used to denote a very small amount, equivalent to one thousandth. Additionally, it is a currency unit representing 0.1 yuan.
When using 毫 (háo) in sentences, you might refer to something very small, such as '毫无疑问' (háo wú yí wèn), meaning 'without a doubt.' It can also be used in contexts related to measurements, such as '毫升' (háo shēng) for milliliters.
You can say '毫无疑问' (háo wú yí wèn), which means 'without a doubt'.
While both relate to hair, 毫 emphasizes a finer measurement, while 毛 can refer to hair in a more general sense.
Yes, 毫 refers to the unit of currency equal to 0.1 yuan, though it is less commonly used in everyday transactions today.
