好不容易 (hǎo bù róngyì) means "very difficult" or "really not easy." It is often used where the speaker wants to comment on the result of their hard work, something like "It was really hard for me do to do x, but then I realized y."

Adverbial Structure with 才

Structure

Sentences using 好不容易 are often followed by 才, emphasizing the action has been completed later than expected. Strange as it might seem, 好容易 has the same meaning as 好不容易, and can be used interchangeably.

Examples

我们 好不容易 才做完这个项目，结果合同取消了。With great difficulty, we finally finished this project. As a result, the contract is up.
我 好不容易 才到市中心，却发现没带手机，只好回去拿。It took me a long time to reach the city center, then I realized I had forgotten my cell phone and had to go back and get it.
金融危机之后他 好不容易 才找到工作，现在又辞职了。After the financial crisis, he had a hard time finding a job. Now he's resigning.
我 好不容易 才打通了银行的服务热线。 With great difficulty, they finally climbed to the top of the mountain.As a result,it started raining heavily.
他们 好不容易 才爬到了山顶，结果下起了大雨。They.

Adjectival Structure (without 才)

Structure

In this structure one can only use “好(不)容易” to express “with great difficulty”. At the end of the sentence particles such as “啊” or “哦” will also often be used to emphasize emotion.

Examples

要完成这个大项目好不容易 啊。Finishing this big project will not be an easy task.
养大一个孩子 好不容易。Raising a child is not an easy thing to do.
创办一个公司 好不容易 啊。Starting a company isn't easy.

Adverbial Structure with 才

Structure

Examples

Adjectival Structure (without 才)

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books