naan4難难
Jyutpingnaan4
Yalenàahn
Definition
Difficult; hard; not easy to do, requiring a lot of time, trouble, or effort.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Use this to describe tasks or situations that require significant effort or skill to overcome. It often appears with the particle 呀 or 㗎 to soften the tone when expressing frustration or seeking agreement. When paired with verbs, it frequently functions as a potential complement to indicate that something is impossible or unlikely to happen.
Examples
This homework is really hard to do.
Do you think this matter is difficult to handle?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 辛苦, which specifically describes physical or mental exhaustion. While a task might be 難 because it is complex, it is 辛苦 because it drains your energy or causes suffering.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
