不难

• Pinyin: bù nán
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = not; 难 = 又 (again) + 隹 (bird), originally depicting a bird caught, hence difficulty

Meaning

Not difficult; easy to do; can easily be done. Often used to say something is achievable with reasonable effort.

Frequently followed by verbs like 理解, 看出, 发现, 想象 to indicate that something can readily be understood, observed, or imagined. More understated than saying something is 容易 — implies feasibility rather than simplicity.

Examples

1. 从他的表情不难看出，他对这个提议并不满意。 It's not hard to tell from his expression that he's not satisfied with this proposal.
2. 只要肯花时间练习，这项技能不难掌握。 As long as you're willing to put in the practice time, this skill isn't hard to master.
3. 不难想象，如果没有及时干预，后果会有多严重。 It's not hard to imagine how serious the consequences would have been without timely intervention.

Usage Guide

Context: analysis, assessment, reassurance

Tone: confident

Do Say

• 不难看出他在撒谎。(It's not hard to tell he's lying.)
• 这道题不难，你再想想。(This problem isn't hard — think about it again.)

Don't Say

• 这个游戏不难死了。(Don't add 死了 after 不难 — it only works with the positive form 难死了)

Origin & History

不 (not) + 难 (difficult). A straightforward negation indicating the absence of difficulty.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal