难能可贵 (nánnéngkěguì) · rare and commendable

难能可贵 (nánnéngkěguì) means “rare and commendable; praiseworthy”. It is written with 4 characters: 难 (difficult) + 能 (can) + 可 (but) + 贵 (expensive). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).

How 难能可贵 is built

The characters

难 nán · difficult

What 难 is made of

又yòu — and
隹zhuī — short-tailed bird
- 亻rén — person

Origin hint: A hand 又 trying to grasp at a bird 隹 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

能 néng · can

What 能 is made of

厶sī — private
⺼ — meat
匕bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
匕bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke

Origin hint: A bear's head 厶, body ⺼, and claws 匕 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

可 kě · but

What 可 is made of

丁dīng — male adult
口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: 丁 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

贵 guì · expensive

What 贵 is made of

中zhōng — middle
- 口kǒu — mouth
  - 冂 — frame
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
一 — horizontal stroke
贝bèi — sea shell
- 冂 — frame
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 人rén — person

Origin hint: money (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

他这么年轻就这么懂事，真是难能可贵。Tā zhème niánqīng jiù zhème dǒngshì, zhēnshì nánnéngkěguì.It's admirable that he's so sensible at such a young age.

她的坚持是难能可贵的。Tā de jiānchí shì nánnéngkěguì de.Her persistence is truly commendable.

Questions about 难能可贵

What does 难能可贵 mean?

难能可贵 (nánnéngkěguì) means “rare and commendable; praiseworthy”.

How do you pronounce 难能可贵?

难能可贵 is pronounced nánnéngkěguì.

Which HSK level is 难能可贵?

难能可贵 is in Old HSK 6.

Related words

Learn 难能可贵 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 130: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group