好容易 hǎoróngyì with great difficulty
(idiomatic usage) with great difficulty; to have a hard time (convincing somebody, relinquishing something etc); (literal usage) so easy
How to remember 好容易: 好 good + 容 contain + 易 easy = with great difficulty.
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How it is used
- Idiomatic: 'with great difficulty / after much trouble' - it means the opposite of 'easy': 好容易才找到 (hǎoróngyì cái zhǎodào) finally found it after a real struggle.
- Major trap: 好容易 and 好不容易 both mean 'only with great difficulty' - the 不 doesn't flip it. Usually followed by 才.
- Colloquial and emphatic; signals relief after effort.