难以 nányǐ hard to (predict, imagine etc)
How to remember 难以: 难 difficult + 以 to use = hard to (predict, imagine etc).
Characters
How it is used
- 'Hard to…' - a formal adverb placed before a verb - 难以想象 (nányǐ xiǎngxiàng) hard to imagine; 难以置信 (nányǐ zhìxìn) unbelievable; 难以接受 (nányǐ jiēshòu) hard to accept.
- 难以 + verb only (never a noun). More written than the colloquial 很难 (hěn nán) + verb.
Example sentences
- 你会发现难以满足她。 Nǐ huì fāxiàn nányǐ mǎnzú tā.You'll find it difficult to meet her requirements.
- 法语说得快，我就难以理解。 Fǎyǔ shuō de kuài, wǒ jiù nányǐ lǐjiě.It's hard for me to understand French when it's spoken quickly.