Chinese word

好不容易

Pronunciation

Pinyinhǎo bù róng yì

Meaning

  • adverbfinally

Example

我好不容易才找到工作。wǒ hǎo bù róng yì cái zhǎo dào gōng zuò

I finally found a job.

Illustration for 好不容易 (finally)

More examples

我好不容易说服了他参加会议。wǒ hǎo bù róng yì shuō fú le tā cān jiā huì yì

I finally persuaded him to attend the meeting.

Core concept

A hard-won result that arrives only after obstacles and delay.

Common phrases

  • 好不容易说服hǎo bù róng yì shuō fú

    persuade with great difficulty

  • 好不容易找到hǎo bù róng yì zhǎo dào

    find with great difficulty

Similar words

终于zhōng yú: Indicates that an expected result happens eventually after waiting or sustained effort.
总算zǒng suàn: Indicates that a hoped-for result is achieved somehow after trouble or worry, with relief.
好容易hǎo róng yì: Highlights the great effort needed to achieve a result.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示因困难而迟得或不易达到的结果，常带有庆幸或遗憾的语气。yòng yú biǎo shì yīn kùn nán ér chí dé huò bú yì dá dào de jié guǒ cháng dài yǒu qìng xìng huò yí hàn de yǔ qì

Word origin

好不容易 (hǎobùróngyì, "not easy at all") combines 好 (hǎo, "very") + 不 (bù, "not") + 容易 (róngyì, "easy") into an adverb for an outcome reached after much effort.

Usage tips

  • In English, finally often sounds neutral, but this Chinese adverb usually highlights the cost or delay behind the result, so it can carry relief or disappointment.

Other meanings

  • with great difficultyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word