毫不留情

háobùliúqíng

idiom #17,243

Meanings

1 to show no mercy
2 ruthless
3 relentless

Characters

hair's breadth; the slightest

to retain; to keep

Examples

裁判毫不留情地罚了他一张红牌。

Cáipàn háobùliúqíng de fá le tā yī zhāng hóngpái.

The referee mercilessly gave him a red card.

她对任何形式的欺骗毫不留情。

Tā duì rènhé xíngshì de qīpiàn háobùliúqíng.

She shows no mercy toward any form of deception.

Tips

memory

毫 (not the slightest) + 不 (not) + 留 (retain) + 情 (feeling) = not retaining the slightest bit of feeling — utterly merciless.

Stroke Order

毫 háo

不 bù

留 liú

情 qíng