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March 24, 2026
丝毫(絲毫)sīháo(si1hao2)
丝毫 refers to the slightest amount or degree of something, often used to emphasize that there is not even a small trace of something. It is commonly used in negative constructions to indicate that something does not exist at all, such as 'not the slightest bit of doubt.'
Frequency#6330DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
丝毫 is often used in literary and philosophical texts to convey precision and depth in discussions of morality or emotion, reflecting the value placed on subtlety in Chinese thought.
Memory Tip
Imagine a single thread of silk (丝) that is so thin it barely exists. When you think of 丝毫, picture that tiny silk thread representing the smallest amount possible, helping you remember both the sound 'si' and the meaning of minimal presence.
Meanings of 丝毫
sīháo(si1hao2)
1the slightest amount or degree
2a bit
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 丝毫
丝毫Simplified
絲毫Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#6330Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 丝毫
Podcast: 丝毫
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AI Study Notes for 丝毫
Quick Contrast
丝毫 (sīháo) vs 一点 (yīdiǎn) — use 丝毫 to emphasize the absence of any amount, while 一点 refers to a small amount that may still exist.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a single thread of silk (丝) that is so thin it barely exists. When you think of 丝毫, picture that tiny silk thread representing the smallest amount possible, helping you remember both the sound 'si' and the meaning of minimal presence.
Usage Notes
Be careful when using 丝毫, as it is often used in negative contexts. For example, '他丝毫没有兴趣' (He has not the slightest bit of interest) is correct, while saying '他丝毫感兴趣' (He has the slightest bit of interest) is incorrect. This word is more formal, often appearing in written language and speeches.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 丝毫 connects well with other words expressing degrees and quantities (e.g., 一点儿, 稍微). Focus on using it in sentences to practice its negative form, which is the most common context.
Cultural Note
丝毫 is often used in literary and philosophical texts to convey precision and depth in discussions of morality or emotion, reflecting the value placed on subtlety in Chinese thought.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 丝毫 with similar expressions like 一点儿 (a little). For instance, saying '我丝毫不喜欢这个' (I slightly don't like this) is incorrect; it should be '我一点儿都不喜欢这个' (I don't like this at all).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 丝毫
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Grammar Patterns of 丝毫
丝毫 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 2 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.
I don't know that it's made the decision any easier.
4
他咕哝了些什么，然后食物丝毫未动就进了起居室。
tā gū nóng le xiē shí mó， ， rán hòu shí wù sī háo wèi dòng jiù jìn le qǐ jū。
He murmured something, then, food left untouched, went into the sitting-room.
5
马尔科姆单打独干，但我对他的能力丝毫不怀疑。
mǎ ěr kē mǔ dān dǎ dú gān， ， dàn wǒ duì tā de néng lì sī háo bù huái。
Malcolm works in isolation but I have no doubts about his abilities.
6
报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差.
bào gào zhōng suǒ tí dào de shì shí dū sī háo bù chà.
The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.
7
他们的测量非常精确,丝毫不差.
tā mén de cè liáng fēi cháng jīng què, , sī háo bù.
Their measurement are correct to a hair's breadth.
8
她的语言优美，丝毫无装腔作势之感。
tā de yǔ yán yōu měi， ， sī háo wú zhuāng qiāng zuò shì zhī。
She's got a lovely way with language without ever sounding ostentatious.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
This is by no means out of the ordinary.
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Cultural Notes for 丝毫
🏮Cultural insight
丝毫 is often used in literary and philosophical texts to convey precision and depth in discussions of morality or emotion, reflecting the value placed on subtlety in Chinese thought.
Frequently Asked Questions about 丝毫
No, 丝毫 is typically used in negative sentences to emphasize the absence of something.
Yes, it is more commonly found in formal writing or speeches rather than in casual conversation.
'丝毫不怕' is a common phrase meaning 'not the slightest bit afraid'.
