B2 · Grammar reference · ASG81QV3
Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" 好不容易 (hǎo bù róngyì) means "very difficult" or "really not easy." It is often used where the speaker wants to comment on the result of their hard work, something like "It was really hard for me to x, but then I realized y."
Structure
Subj. + 好 (不) 容易 + 才 + [Result]
Verb / [Verb Phrase] + 好容易 / 好不容易
Keywords 好容易 · 好不容易 · 不 · 好 · 容易 · difficult
Used for Expressing quality
Classification Adverbs Examples (10) Add all sentences to My sentences She had a hard time losing weight and succeeded.. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. It was no easy task to get through to the bank's customer service hotline. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. It was with great difficulty that we finally finished this project. But then the contract was canceled. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. It was a lot of trouble to get to the city center, but then I realized I had forgotten my cell phone and had to go back and get it. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. After the financial crisis, he had a hard time finally finding a job. And now he's resigning. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. With great difficulty, they finally climbed to the top of the mountain. And then it started raining heavily. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. The teacher had a difficult time making the students correct the wrong sentences. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. Finishing this big project will not be an easy task. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. Raising a child is not an easy thing to do. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. Starting a company isn't easy. Illustrates Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi" with 好容易. Further resources
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