difficult

Definitions

dif- (a form of dis-, 'not, apart') + fic (the weakened fac, 'do') = 'not do-able.' Latin difficilis was the direct opposite of facilis ('easy, do-able'): if facile means 'easy to do,' then difficult means 'hard to do.' The dif- simply negates the doing.

Why It Means This

Difficult is the negative twin of facile. Latin facilis ('easy') literally meant 'do-able,' built straight on facere. Add dif- ('not') and you get 'not do-able' → hard. Seeing this pair is a shortcut: anything facile is easy because it can be done; anything difficult resists being done.

Common Collocations

• 1.extremely difficult极其困难
• 2.difficult situation困境
• 3.difficult to understand难以理解
• 4.make life difficult为难某人
• 5.difficult question难题

Example Sentences

• 1.

  This is the most difficult decision of my life.

• 2.

  It's difficult to learn a language as an adult.

• 3.

  He can be a difficult person to work with.