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  <h1>Expressing "difficult" with "<span class="pinyinst">nan</span>" "<span class="hanzist">难</span>"</h1>

  <p><span class="hanzi">难</span> (<span class="pinyin">nán</span>) is an adjective that means "<b>difficult</b>." When something is "<b>hard to do</b>" (as in difficult), the word <span class="hanzi">难</span> (<span class="pinyin">nán</span>) can be used before the verb.</p>

  <h2 id="难-nán-with-general-verbs"><span class="hanzist">难</span> (<span class="pinyinst">nán</span>) with General Verbs</h2>

  <p>Just as <span class="hanzi">好</span> (<span class="pinyin">hǎo</span>) can be used to indicate that it's easy to do something, <span class="hanzi">难</span> (<span class="pinyin">nán</span>) can be attached to verbs (<b>with a few special exceptions</b>), to indicate that something is hard to do.</p>

  <h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>

  <p>The structure is:</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + (<span class="hanzist">很</span>) <span class="hanzist">难</span> + Verb</p>
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  <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">这 句 话 很 难 懂。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhè jù huà hěn nán dǒng.</span> <br/> This sentence is hard to understand.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">汉语 很 难 学。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ hěn nán xué.</span> <br/> Mandarin is hard to learn.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">中国菜 很 难 做。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó cài hěn nán zuò.</span> <br/> Chinese food is hard to make.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这 个 东西 现在 很 难 买。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi xiànzài hěn nán mǎi.</span> <br/> This thing is really difficult to purchase now.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这 个 汉字 很 难 写。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Zhège Hànzì hěn nán xiě.</span> <br/> This character is very difficult to write.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="难-nán-with-sense-verbs"><span class="hanzist">难</span> (<span class="pinyinst">nán</span>) with Sense Verbs</h2>

  <p><span class="hanzi">难</span> (<span class="pinyin">nán</span>) can also be attached to "sense verbs" (e.g. look, taste, smell, etc.) to indicate that something offers a "bad sensory experience."</p>

  <h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>

  <p>The structure is:</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + (<span class="hanzist">很</span>) <span class="hanzist">难</span> + [Sense Verb]</p>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 做 的 菜 很 难吃。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò de cài hěn nánchī.</span> <br/> The dishes you cook taste bad.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这里 的 咖啡 很 难喝。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhè lǐ de kāfēi hěn nánhē.</span> <br/> The coffee here tastes bad.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这 首 歌 很 难听。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Zhè shǒu gē hěn nántīng.</span> <br/> This song is terrible (hard to listen to).</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这 种 花 很 难闻。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng huā hěn nánwén.</span> <br/> This kind of flower smells bad.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这 件 衣服 很 难看吗？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn nánkàn ma?</span> <br/> Is this article of clothing ugly?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>Warning! If you're trying to say that a particular dish is "difficult to eat," don't use <span class="hanzi">难吃</span> (<span class="pinyin">nánchī</span>)! The word <span class="hanzi">难吃</span> (<span class="pinyin">nánchī</span>) only means "<b>bad-tasting</b>" and not "<b>difficult to eat.</b>"</p>

  <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="Using_&quot;hao&quot;_to_mean_&quot;easy&quot;" title="wikilink">Using "hao" to mean "easy"</a></li>

    <li><a href="Expressing_Difficulty_with_&quot;hao_(bu)_rongyi&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"</a></li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="books">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 232)</li>
  </ul>
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