(1) 困難的(not easy; hard to do， make， solve， understand， etc) [A+to-inf]：a～problem to solve/language to learn/question to answer (a problem～to solve/a language～to learn/a question～to answer) 難解決的問題/難學(xué)的語言/難回答的問題;The theory is～to explain. 這一理論很難解釋。The matter is～to deal with. 這件事很難處理。The task is～to perform. 這項任務(wù)很難完成。We find it (is)～to convince her/to decide between the two. 我們發(fā)現(xiàn)很難說服她/在兩者中取舍。a problem～of solution 難以解決的問題;a task～of accomplishment 難以完成的任務(wù);an aim～of achievement 難以達(dá)到的目的;〖同〗hard;〖反〗easy， simple;
(2) 難以取悅(滿足，對付，合作)的((of people)hard to please， satisfy， deal with or co-operate with)：a～child/customer/person 一個難對付的小孩/顧客/人;Don't be～—please give it back to me. 痛快點(diǎn)，把它還給我吧。
(3) 艱難的(having， producing many problems， troubles， etc)：A～period lies ahead. 艱難時期即將來臨。Times were～during the Depression. 經(jīng)濟(jì)大蕭條時期很艱難?！纪絟ard， rough;〖反〗easy;
→′difficulty n;
【辨異】difficult與hard 都用于描寫抗拒人的努力與忍耐的事物。hard(難的，不容易的)是通常用語，如：hard times(艱難時代);difficult尤用于描寫需要特殊努力和技能的事物，如：a difficult task(困難的任務(wù))。