难以 + 动词
hard to; difficult to (written 很难)
Structure
主语 难以 动词（短语）
What it means
“Hard to, difficult to”: the written form of 很难 before a verb.
How it is built
Subject + 难以 + verb (usually two syllables) or verb phrase: 这样的结果让人难以接受 (a result like this is hard to accept). Common: 难以想象, 难以理解, 难以忘记, 令人难以相信.
When to use it
Formal and written; in speech 很难 or 不好 + verb is more natural. It must have a verb after it and cannot be the whole predicate: 这道题很难, never ✗ 这道题难以.
Watch out
✗ 很难以接受: 难 already means “hard”, so no 很. ✗ 难以睡 ✓ 难以入睡: use a two-syllable verb or a verb phrase.
Examples
红线一划，它们便难以再借到新钱。
Once the red lines were drawn, they found it hard to borrow any more.
这样的结果，让人难以接受。
A result like this is hard to accept.
那天发生的一切，我至今难以忘记。
I still find it hard to forget everything that happened that day.
Learn this in Lesson 70 · HSK 6: 楼市的转折 (The property market turns)
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