The prefix 难 is unforgettable and useful! It can transform a verb into an adjective. Isn’t it easy to learn Chinese this way?
中文难学吗？
Let’s start this post with “难学”.
难 means “difficult, hard, etc”, and it can serve as a prefix to turn some verbs into adjectives. Now let’s go directly to the examples:
The formula of the prefix 难
难 + a verb = an adjective
Examples：
难+得 (get) = 难得 rare
这真是一次难得的机会呀！
This is really a rare opportunity!
难+过(pass) = 难过 sad
她很难过因为她的父亲去世了。
She was very sad because her father died.
难+懂 (comprehend) = 难懂 incomprehensible/difficult to comprehend
对小学四年级的学生来说，这篇文章确实很难懂。
This article is really hard to understand for the students in the fourth grade of primary school.
难+忘(forget) = 难忘 unforgettable
他在他的小说中创造了很多令人难忘的人物。
He created many unforgettable characters in his novels.
难+受(feel) = 难受 uncomfortable/feel unwell
我觉得难受，想去睡觉了。
I feel terrible and I think I’ll go to bed.
难+说(say) = 难说 uncertain/hard to say
很难说市场将会如何发展。
It is difficult to say how the market will develop.
难+用 (use) = 难用 difficult to use
我的新手机很难用。
My new mobile phone is difficult to use.
难 + 吃 (eat) = 好吃 unpalatable
这家餐馆的食物又贵又难吃。
The food in the restaurant is unpalatable and expensive.
难 + 看 (look) = 难看 ugly, unsightly
这辆自行车难看，那辆好看。
This bike is ugly；that one is nice
难 + 学 (learn) = 难学 difficult to learn
许多人认为汉语很难学。
Many people think Chinese is difficult to learn.
难+ 听 (hear) = 好听 unpleasant (to hear)
这首曲子真难听！
This piece of music is really unpleasant!
难 + 办 (handle) = 难办 difficult to handle
这事并不难办。我很快会处理好的。
This matter is not difficult to handle and I will deal with it soon.
难 + 做 (d0) = 难做 difficult to do/solve
这道数学题真难做，我思考了一下午还是没能解答。
This math problem is really difficult to solve. After thinking all afternoon, I still can’t solve it.
难 + 开 (drive) = 难开 difficult to drive
这辆车好难开。
This car is very difficult to drive.
…
Interestingly, the prefix 难 is the oppsite of the prefix 好 even though 难 is not the antonym of 好, for example: the antonym of 难听 is 好听, the antonym of 难用 is 好用, the antonym of 难学 is 好学, the antonym of 难看 is 好看, the antonym of 难受 is 好受, etc.
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Don’t forget to check out the prefix 好 and its formula!
You may also want to watch our Youtube version for this content where you can hear the pronunciation of the examples.