难 + Verb (difficult to do)

• 拼音: nán
• 结构: Subject + (很) 难 + Verb / Sense Verb
• 汉字拆解: 难 = 又 (again/hand) + 隹 (short-tailed bird)

含义

The adjective 难 (nán) is placed before certain verbs to express that an action is difficult to perform. Common combinations include 难做 (hard to do), 难说 (hard to say), 难懂 (hard to understand), and 难看 (ugly / hard to look at).

难 frequently combines with sense verbs and common action verbs to form compound adjectives: 难看 (ugly), 难听 (unpleasant-sounding), 难吃 (bad-tasting), 难闻 (bad-smelling), 难受 (uncomfortable), 难过 (sad). These compounds have become fixed expressions with meanings that go beyond simply 'difficult to V.' When 难 is used more literally with other verbs, 很 can be added for emphasis: 很难说 (really hard to say), 很难做 (really hard to do). Note the difference between 难 + Verb (hard to do) and Verb + 不了 (unable to do) — the former emphasizes difficulty while the latter emphasizes inability.

例句

1. 这道数学题太难做了。
2. 他的字很难看懂。
3. 这种药特别难吃。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: evaluative

正确说法

• 这篇文章的内容很难理解。
• 这首歌的歌词很难记住。
• 这种菜闻起来很难闻，但是很好吃。

错误说法

• 这个题难很做。(很 should come before 难, not between 难 and the verb — say 很难做, not 难很做) → 这个题很难做。
• 我难学中文。(难 needs to directly precede the verb it modifies, and the subject of difficulty should be the action itself — say 中文很难学 or 学中文很难) → 中文很难学。

起源与历史

难 originally depicted a bird (隹) trapped in mud or difficult terrain (又), conveying the idea of being stuck in a difficult situation. This vivid image of being unable to move freely became the general word for 'difficult' in Chinese.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal