very difficult; after going through a lot of trouble

To have a hard time doing something; used before a verb to emphasize that it took a lot of effort to achieve a result. This meaning is identical to [[好不容易|好不容易|hao3 bu4 rong2 yi4]].

It is by no means easy; describes a situation that is much more difficult to accomplish than it is to talk about.

It is easy to invite a troublesome person to help, but very difficult to get rid of them afterwards; stuck with an unwanted guest, employee, or partner.

It is easier to start something than to conclude it satisfactorily

difficult; not simple to do or achieve

(figurative) do not overreach or take on more than you can handle; take things slowly. This catchphrase is a quote from the movie [[让子弹飞|讓子彈飛|rang4 zi3 dan4 fei1]] meaning "if you take too big a stride, you could easily rip your balls".