TongTong
Sign in

好不容易 (hǎo bù róng yì) — with great difficulty; after a lot of trouble; only after much effort

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'only after much difficulty' — the 好 inverts 不容易 to emphasize how hard something was. Pairs with 才 to highlight the narrow result, e.g. 才好、才找到.

verb
with great difficultyafter a lot of troubleonly after much effort

Examples

  • 好不容易。
    Wǒ hǎo bù róng yì cái zhǎo dào nà jiā cān tīng.
    I found that restaurant only after a lot of effort.
  • 好不容易。
    Tā hǎo bù róng yì kǎo shàng le dà xué.
    He got into college after great difficulty.
  • 好不容易。
    Wǒ men hǎo bù róng yì gǎn shàng zuì hòu yì bān chē.
    We caught the last bus only after a lot of trouble.

Grammar

Appears in
Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.