难以置信

• Pinyin: nán yǐ zhì xìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 难 = 又 + 隹; 以 = by means of; 置 = 罒(net/cover) + 直(straight) — to set in place; 信 = 亻(person) + 言(speech) — trustworthy words

Meaning

Hard to believe; incredible; unbelievable; beyond credibility.

Describes something so surprising, extreme, or counterintuitive that it strains belief. Used in news commentary, emotional reactions, and analytical discourse. Often interchangeable with 不可思议, but 难以置信 carries a stronger focus on disbelief.

Examples

1. 那位百岁老人每天仍坚持跑步五公里，这种体力实在难以置信。 That centenarian still runs five kilometers every day—his stamina is truly hard to believe.
2. 调查结果显示，这场骗局持续了整整二十年，令所有人都感到难以置信。 The investigation found that the scam went on for a full twenty years, something everyone found hard to believe.
3. 他竟然一夜之间成了亿万富翁，这种转变难以置信，背后必有隐情。 He became a billionaire overnight. The change is unbelievable—there has to be more to it.

Usage Guide

Context: news, formal commentary, emotional reaction, analysis

Tone: surprised/disbelieving

Do Say

• 那项医学研究的数据令专家们难以置信，结果被反复核验了三遍才正式公布。(The data from that medical study was so hard to believe that experts verified the results three times before officially announcing them.)
• 她居然在毫无准备的情况下赢得了国际大赛冠军，这对所有人来说都是难以置信的结果。(That she won the international championship with absolutely no preparation was a result that everyone found incredibly hard to believe.)

Don't Say

• 将'难以置信'用于轻微的惊讶 — 难以置信 carries a strong sense of disbelief at something dramatic or extreme; for mild surprise, use 没想到 or 真没料到

Origin & History

难以(difficult to) + 置信(place trust/believe). 置 means 'to place/put'; 信 means 'trust/credibility.' Together: hard to place one's trust in something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal