难度

• Pinyin: nán dù
• Hanzi breakdown: 难 = 又 (hand) + 隹 (bird), a bird hard to catch; 度 = 广 (shelter) + 廿 + 又 (hand), meaning degree or measure

Meaning

Difficulty; level of difficulty. The degree to which something is hard to do.

Used to describe how challenging a task, exam, project, or activity is. Often modified by adjectives: 难度很大 (very difficult), 难度不高 (not very difficult). Common in education, sports, and work contexts. Different from 困难 which means 'hardship' — 难度 specifically measures the level of difficulty.

Examples

1. 这次考试的难度比上次大多了。 This exam was much harder than the last one.
2. 这个动作的难度太高，我做不到。 This move is too difficult — I can't do it.
3. 老师说会降低一点作业的难度。 The teacher said the homework difficulty will be reduced a little.

Usage Guide

Context: education, sports, work

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 这道题的难度适中。(The difficulty of this question is moderate.)
• 比赛的难度一年比一年大。(The difficulty of the competition gets greater year after year.)

Don't Say

• 我今天很难度。(Don't use 难度 as an adjective — it is a noun. Say 我今天遇到了很大的难度 or simply 我今天很困难.)

Origin & History

难 means difficult (a bird hard to catch); 度 means degree or measure (广 shelter + 又 hand, originally measuring length). Together: the degree of difficulty.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal