lái来comezhī之itbù不notyì易easy
Not easily obtained; hard-won.
Literal meaning
come (来) — it (之) — not (不) — easy (易)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing something that is difficult to obtain.
Examples
Zhè这ge个jī机huì会lái来zhī之bù不yì易，wǒ我men们yào要hǎo好hāo好zhēn珍xī惜。
This opportunity was hard-won, we must cherish it.
Jīn今tiān天de的xìng幸fú福shēng生huó活lái来zhī之bù不yì易，wǒ我men们yào要gǎn感xiè谢xiān先bèi辈de的fù付chū出。
Today's happy life was not easily obtained, we must thank the efforts of our ancestors.
Usage & nuances
Emphasizes the value of something that required effort to achieve.
Learn idioms by speaking them
Idioms are most useful when they land in a real conversation. Practice them out loud in Kango — get instant feedback on tone and timing.
Download Kango on iOS