Difference between revisions of "Expressing "difficult" with "nan""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
− | + | 难 (nán) is an adjective that means "difficult." When something is "hard to do" (as in difficult), the word 难 (nán) can be used before the verb. | |
− | == 难 with General Verbs == | + | == 难 (nán) with General Verbs == |
+ | |||
+ | Just as 好 (hǎo) can be used to indicate that it's [[Using "hao" to mean "easy"|easy to do something]], 难 (nán) can be attached to verbs (with a few special exceptions), to indicate that something is ''hard to do''. | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
− | + | The structure is: | |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
Line 19: | Line 21: | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | + | * 这 句 话 很 <em>难 懂</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè jù huà hěn <em>nán dǒng</em>.</span><span class="trans">This sentence is hard to understand.</span> | |
− | * 这 句 话 <em> | + | * 汉语 很 <em>难 学</em>。<span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ hěn <em>nán xué</em>.</span><span class="trans">Mandarin is hard to learn.</span> |
− | + | * 中国菜 很 <em>难 做</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó cài hěn <em>nán zuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">Chinese food is hard to make.</span> | |
− | * 汉语 <em> | + | * 这 个 东西 现在 很 <em>难 买</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi xiànzài hěn <em>nán mǎi</em>. </span><span class="trans">This thing is really difficult to purchase now.</span> |
− | + | *这 个 汉字 很 <em> 难 写</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège Hànzì hěn <em> nán xiě</em>.</span><span class="trans">This character is very difficult to write.</span> | |
− | * 中国菜 <em> | ||
− | |||
− | * 这 个 东西 现在 <em> | ||
− | |||
− | *这 个 汉字 很 <em> 难 写</em> 。 <span class="pinyin"> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | == 难 with Sense Verbs == | + | == 难 (nán) with Sense Verbs == |
+ | |||
+ | 难 (nán) can also be attached to "sense verbs" (e.g. look, taste, smell, etc.) to indicate that something offers a "bad sensory experience." | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
− | + | The structure is: | |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
Line 48: | Line 47: | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * <em> | + | * 你 做 的 菜 很 <em>难吃</em>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò de cài hěn <em>nánchī</em>.</span><span class="trans">The dishes you cook taste bad.</span> |
− | * | + | * 这里 的 咖啡 很 <em>难喝</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè lǐ de kāfēi hěn <em>nánhē</em>.</span><span class="trans">The coffee here tastes bad.</span> |
− | * <em> | + | * 这 首 歌 很 <em>难听</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shǒu gē hěn <em>nántīng</em>.</span><span class="trans">This song is terrible (hard to listen to).</span> |
− | * 这 种 花 <em> | + | * 这 种 花 很 <em>难闻</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng huā hěn <em>nánwén</em>.</span><span class="trans">This kind of flower smells bad.</span> |
− | + | * 这 件 衣服 很 <em>难看</em>吗?<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn <em>nánkàn</em> ma? </span><span class="trans">Is this article of clothing ugly? </span> | |
− | * 这 件 衣服 <em> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Warning!''' If you're trying to say that a particular dish is "difficult to eat," don't use 难吃 (nánchī)! The word 难吃 (nánchī) ''only'' means "bad-tasting" and ''not'' "difficult to eat." | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
− | *[[ | + | *[[Using "hao" to mean "easy"]] |
*[[Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"]] | *[[Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"]] | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
− | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|232}} | |
[[Category:A2 grammar points]] | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
+ | {{HSK|HSK3}} | ||
{{Used for|Describing actions}} | {{Used for|Describing actions}} | ||
− | {{Basic Grammar|难|A2|难 + | + | {{Basic Grammar|难|A2|难 + Verb|<em>难</em> 做。<em>难</em> 买。|grammar point|ASG35T4H}} |
− | {{Similar| | + | {{Similar|Using "hao" to mean "easy"}} |
{{Similar|Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"}} | {{Similar|Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"}} | ||
{{POS|Verbs}} | {{POS|Verbs}} |
Latest revision as of 07:59, 10 April 2019
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Keywords
难 (nán) is an adjective that means "difficult." When something is "hard to do" (as in difficult), the word 难 (nán) can be used before the verb.
Contents
难 (nán) with General Verbs
Just as 好 (hǎo) can be used to indicate that it's easy to do something, 难 (nán) can be attached to verbs (with a few special exceptions), to indicate that something is hard to do.
Structure
The structure is:
Subj. + (很) 难 + Verb
Examples
- 这 句 话 很 难 懂。 This sentence is hard to understand.
- 汉语 很 难 学。Mandarin is hard to learn.
- 中国菜 很 难 做。Chinese food is hard to make.
- 这 个 东西 现在 很 难 买。This thing is really difficult to purchase now.
- 这 个 汉字 很 难 写。This character is very difficult to write.
难 (nán) with Sense Verbs
难 (nán) can also be attached to "sense verbs" (e.g. look, taste, smell, etc.) to indicate that something offers a "bad sensory experience."
Structure
The structure is:
Subj. + (很) 难 + [Sense Verb]
Examples
- 你 做 的 菜 很 难吃。The dishes you cook taste bad.
- 这里 的 咖啡 很 难喝。The coffee here tastes bad.
- 这 首 歌 很 难听。This song is terrible (hard to listen to).
- 这 种 花 很 难闻。This kind of flower smells bad.
- 这 件 衣服 很 难看吗?Is this article of clothing ugly?
Warning! If you're trying to say that a particular dish is "difficult to eat," don't use 难吃 (nánchī)! The word 难吃 (nánchī) only means "bad-tasting" and not "difficult to eat."