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March 24, 2026
不易()bùyì(bu4yi4)
不易 (bù yì) means 'not easy' or 'difficult' in Chinese. It is often used to describe tasks or situations that require considerable effort or are challenging to accomplish. Additionally, it can imply something that is stable or unchanging, highlighting the idea that certain values or conditions are hard to alter.
Frequency#17557DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of perseverance and overcoming difficulties is highly valued, often reflected in proverbs and sayings that emphasize the importance of enduring hardships to achieve success.
Memory Tip
Think of 不 (bù) as a barrier that makes things not easy, and 易 (yì) as a simple, easy task. Picture a person trying to cross a hurdle (不) that represents challenges, reinforcing the concept that some things are just not easy to do.
Meanings of 不易
bùyì(bu4yi4)
1not easy to do sth
2difficult
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About 不易
不易Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 不易
Podcast: 不易
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AI Study Notes for 不易
Quick Contrast
困难 (kùnnán) - use 不易 (bùyì) for situations where effort is needed but stability is also implied, while 困难 (kùnnán) focuses solely on the difficulty aspect.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 不 (bù) as a barrier that makes things not easy, and 易 (yì) as a simple, easy task. Picture a person trying to cross a hurdle (不) that represents challenges, reinforcing the concept that some things are just not easy to do.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 不易 is often used in formal contexts and might not be commonly employed in casual conversation. It's frequently seen in written Chinese, especially in literature or discussions about philosophy. A common collocation is 不易于 (bù yì yú), meaning 'not easy to'.
HSK Study Tips
不易 is not specifically listed in the HSK vocabulary but connects well with other HSK 4 and 5 words like 难 (nán, difficult) and 努力 (nǔlì, to strive). Students should practice using 不易 in sentences to describe challenging tasks to reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of perseverance and overcoming difficulties is highly valued, often reflected in proverbs and sayings that emphasize the importance of enduring hardships to achieve success.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 不易 with 难; for example, saying '这件事很难易' (This matter is very easy) instead of '这件事不易' (This matter is not easy). Remember that 不易 specifically denotes difficulty.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 不易
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Usage Notes for 不易
Misunderstanding the usage of 不易Common Error
Learners often confuse 不易 with similar phrases that convey ease or difficulty. It's important to remember that 不易 specifically means something is not easy to accomplish.
1
这件事情不易完成。
This task is not easy to complete.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
这件事情____完成。
This task is not easy to complete.
Cultural Notes for 不易
💡Did you know?
'不易' is often used in Chinese literature and conversation to describe tasks or challenges that require significant effort, reflecting the cultural value placed on perseverance and hard work.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the idea of perseverance and overcoming difficulties is highly valued, often reflected in proverbs and sayings that emphasize the importance of enduring hardships to achieve success.
📜Proverb
A common Chinese saying is '不易之事，心不可轻', which means that challenging tasks should not be taken lightly, emphasizing the importance of diligence and commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions about 不易
Some synonyms for 不易 include 难 (nán), which means 'hard,' and 辛苦 (xīn kǔ), which means 'painstaking' or 'hard work.' These words convey a similar sense of difficulty or challenge.
Yes, 不易 can be used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is a versatile term that fits well in formal and informal contexts, making it useful for learners at various levels.
不易 (bù yì) means 'not easy' or 'difficult.' It is often used to describe situations or tasks that require significant effort or are challenging to accomplish.
You can use 不易 in a sentence to express that something is difficult to do. For example, '这项工作不易完成' means 'This task is not easy to complete.' It emphasizes the challenge involved in the action.
Use 不易 when you want to express that something is difficult or challenging, particularly in formal contexts.
It's more common in written or formal Chinese; in casual conversation, you might use 难 instead.
不易 emphasizes the notion of difficulty in a more formal sense, while 难 is more general and commonly used.
