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并非易事 (bìng fēi yì shì) — not an easy thing; it's no easy task

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'is not an easy task' — 并非 negates ('not actually'), 易事 means 'an easy matter.' Used after a verb phrase to emphasize something is difficult.

verb
not an easy thingit's no easy task

Examples

  • 并非易事。
    Wán chéng zhè ge xiàng mù bìng fēi yì shì.
    Completing this project is no easy task.
  • ，并非易事。
    Duì tā lái shuō, xué huì zhōng wén bìng fēi yì shì.
    For him, learning Chinese is not an easy thing.
  • 并非易事，。
    Xiǎng yào gǎi biàn xí guàn bìng fēi yì shì, xū yào jiān chí.
    Wanting to change a habit is no easy matter; it requires persistence.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 非 is drawn from two wings facing opposite directions. It later came to be used for going against or not being.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The early form of 易 was a drawing of a filled container, not a chameleon. It showed something full that could be given out.

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Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

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Idioms & Set Phrases

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