A modicum is a small amount of something, almost always a good quality you wish there were more of: a modicum of respect, of common sense, of kindness, of truth. The usual shape is “a modicum of …”. It sounds a little formal, and often a little dry — a teacher, a judge, or a newspaper might use it. Though actually, you would not usually use it of food or money in ordinary speech; “a modicum of rice” sounds odd. For those we say a bit or a little. People also like the negative: without a modicum of shame. A Latin-style plural modica exists on paper; almost nobody says it in daily English.

些許、少量（多指尊重、常識這類好特質；很少拿來講飯或錢）