毫不 háobù hardly
hardly; not in the least; not at all
How to remember 毫不: 毫 fine hair + 不 not = hardly.
Characters
How it is used
- Not in the least, not at all - precedes a two-syllable verb/adjective: 毫不犹豫 (háobù yóuyù) without the slightest hesitation, 毫不在乎 (háobú zàihu) not care at all.
- An emphatic total negation (毫 = a fine hair → not even a hair's worth); formal/emphatic.
- Must attach to a disyllabic word; contrast 一点也不 (yìdiǎn yě bù, colloquial 'not at all').
Example sentences
- 我对此毫不怀疑。 Wǒ duìcǐ háobù huáiyí.I don't doubt it in the least.
- 我们毫不费力地想出了密码。 Wǒmen háobúfèilì de xiǎng chū le mìmǎ.We easily figured out the password.
- 我毫不费劲就找到他的公司。 Wǒ háobú fèijìn jiù zhǎodào tā de gōngsī.I had no trouble finding his office.