hung4 mou4鴻毛鸿毛
Jyutpinghung4 mou4
Yalehùhng mòuh
Definition
A goose feather; something of extremely light weight or insignificance.
writtendescriptionsother
How it's used
Literary in origin, this idiom is frequently used in formal or semi-formal contexts to emphasize humility or the triviality of a situation. It is almost always paired with the concept of weight, specifically contrasting with the gravity of Mount Tai, as seen in the classic phrase 死有重於泰山或輕於鴻毛. While it appears in everyday speech, it carries a slightly poetic or intellectual tone that distinguishes it from more common colloquial expressions for insignificance.
Examples
Compared to his contribution, mine is just a drop in the ocean.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common noun for a feather, but it is strictly a figurative idiom. Do not use it to describe an actual bird feather, for which you should use 羽毛.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
