hou2 bat1 jung4 ji6好不容易

Jyutpinghou2 bat1 jung4 ji6

Yalehóu bāt yùhng yih

副詞

Definition

With great difficulty; not easily; after much effort.

colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions

How it's used

Emphasizes the significant effort or struggle required to achieve a specific outcome. It is almost always paired with the particle 先至 to highlight the sequence of events leading up to the eventual success. While it functions as an adverb, it carries a sense of relief or exhaustion regarding the process.

Examples

ngo5我hou2好bat1不jung4容ji6易sin1先zi3至zou6做jyun4完fan2份gung1功fo3課。

I finally finished the homework after a lot of effort.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪hou2好bat1不jung4容ji6易sin1先wan2搵dou3到nei1呢dou6度aa4呀？

Did you have a hard time finding this place?

Common phrases

hou2好bat1不jung4容ji6易sin1先zi3至

only after great difficulty

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of something being difficult, but it specifically describes the process of overcoming a challenge to reach a result. Avoid using it to describe static states, as it focuses on the action or achievement.