easy/difficult

Từ điển Oxford Learners Wordfinder Dictionary

1 easy/difficult
2 simple/complicated
3 convenient/awkward
4 dealing with difficulties

1 easy/difficult
- not difficult to do, understand, etc: easy (adverb easily); noun (U): ease
It won't take long to learn - it's really easy. ◎ I can easily run a mile without stopping. ◎ She passed the exam with ease.
- if sth is extremely easy, you can say that there's nothing to it
There's nothing to it - watch, and copy me.
- not easy to do, understand, etc: difficult, hard
I found Chinese a very difficult language to learn. ◎ Her accent is quite hard to understand. ◎ I was surprised at the difficulty of some of the questions.
- the work or effort caused by sth which is difficult: difficulty (in sth/doing sth) (noun U), trouble (doing sth) (noun U)
You might have difficulty (in) reading my writing. ◎ to do sth with difficulty ◎ I'm sorry I'm late - I had a bit of trouble finding the way.
- something that is very difficult and needs a lot of effort to do is tough
I was asked a lot of tough questions at the interview.
- if sth is difficult for you to understand, it puzzles you, it is puzzling
I found his behaviour puzzling.
- if sth is impossible for you to understand, it is beyond you, (informal) it beats* you
All that astrophysics stuff is beyond me! ◎ It beats me why she's suddenly started behaving like that.
※—† particular kinds of difficulty
- something that is difficult to do or understand: difficulty (often plural)
They've had a lot of difficulties over the past year, but things seem to be going quite well for them now.
- a situation that is difficult to understand or deal with: problem
If you have any problems, please don't hesitate to contact me. ◎ Problems started to arise as soon as the plan was put into action.
※ different kinds of problem PROBLEM
- something that makes a situation difficult: complication; verb: complicate sth
There's been a small complication, so the work won't be ready until tomorrow. ◎ The situation had been complicated by the sudden arrival of her parents.
- something that is not good or that causes problems: disadvantage, drawback
One disadvantage of working from home is that you don't get to meet many people.
- something that is interesting and difficult in a way that forces you to make a lot of effort in order to get good results: challenge; adjective: challenging
I feel that I need a challenge. ◎ We've begun working on a very challenging project.
- something that requires great effort: struggle
It was a great struggle for him to pass his exams.
- a very unpleasant and difficult experience: ordeal
a terrible ordeal
- a time of great danger or difficulty: crisis (plural crises)
Events reached a crisis in 1939.

2 simple/complicated
- without great detail; easy to understand, do or use: simple (adverb simply), straightforward; the quality of being simple: simplicity (noun U)
It's quite simple really - just follow the instructions.
The book is written very simply so that learners can follow it. ◎ This computer software is very straightforward - it's designed for beginners. ◎ Learners will appreciate the simplicity of this grammar book.
- easy to see, hear or understand: plain
in plain English
- very simple to understand: elementary, basic
elementary mathematics ◎ a basic course in French
- (used about machines, systems, books, etc) easy to use: user-friendly
These new computers are much more user-friendly than the old ones.
- having a lot of detail; difficult to understand, do, etc: complicated, complex; noun (U/C): complexity
a complicated piece to play on the piano ◎ The problem is rather complex - it might take some time to explain it to you. ◎ I don't think you fully understand the complexity of the problem. ◎ She tried to explain the complexities of the plan.
※—† making sth simple
- to make sth simpler: simplify sth
to simplify a complex problem ◎ a simplified dictionary for children
- to try to make sth more simple than it really is: oversimplify sth
You won't achieve anything by oversimplifying the situation.

3 convenient/awkward
- easy to find, reach, use, etc: convenient (adverb conveniently)
The hotel is conveniently situated 2 km from the airport.
- not easy to find, reach, use, etc: inconvenient (adverb inconveniently)
- having hidden or unexpected difficulties: tricky
some tricky problems
- not convenient, causing difficulties or embarrassment: awkward
She put me in a very awkward situation by telling everybody my plans.

4 dealing with difficulties
- to experience a difficulty or a problem: run* into sth, run* up against sth
We were doing very well at first, but then we ran into difficulties. ◎ I've run up against a problem and I can't see how to solve it.
- if you have difficulties doing sth, you can say that you have a job doing it/to do it
I had a dreadful job getting the tyre off the wheel. ◎ We'll have a hard job to keep up with them.
- to continue to try to do or understand sth, although you are finding it difficult: persevere (with sth); noun (U): perseverance
I'm so glad I persevered with that job - it was really worth it now that I've been promoted.
- to try very hard to do sth which is difficult: struggle (with sth)
You've been struggling with that exercise for ages - can I help you with it?
※—† MORE ...
- to choose to do sth that is easy, instead of doing sth which would be more difficult but more satisfying or challenging: take* the easy way out, take* the easy option
Instead of apologizing to us personally, he took the easy way out and asked somebody else to do it for him.
- more difficult than you would imagine: easier said than done
'Why don't you move house if you don't like it there?' 'That's easier said than done!'