noun
very small quantity; minute amount
Literary and archaic term for an extremely tiny amount or difference. Often used in classical or formal contexts, such as 毫釐の差 (a hair's breadth of difference).
毫釐の差が千里の誤りを生む。
A tiny difference can lead to a huge mistake.
Variant spelling of 毫釐; equally rare.
僅か is the common modern word for 'a little' or 'slight'; 毫釐 is an archaic, literary term for an extremely minute quantity.
From Chinese 毫釐 (háolí), meaning 'a hair's breadth'. The kanji 毫 and 釐 both refer to very small units or fine hairs, emphasizing extreme minuteness.