# 难能可贵

nán néng kě guì

Especially admirable because it is difficult to achieve

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Hard to accomplish and worthy of appreciation

**Traditional Chinese:** 難能可貴

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Praise a valuable quality or achievement that is not easy to maintain.

Name what makes the action difficult and worth appreciating.

## The image & its use

A person who remains attentive during a demanding project may deserve more than a general compliment. This expression recognizes both the value of the conduct and the difficulty of achieving it. The quality might be patience, honesty about a mistake, or a thoughtful contribution made with limited time. A specific explanation makes the praise meaningful. It is not simply another way to say something is expensive or uncommon; the point is that a worthwhile action has been accomplished despite a real challenge.

## Examples

在忙碌中仍耐心帮助新人，真是难能可贵。

### Traditional Chinese

在忙碌中仍耐心幫助新人，真是難能可貴。

zài máng lù zhōng réng nài xīn bāng zhù xīn rén ， zhēn shì nán néng kě guì 。

Patiently helping newcomers during a busy period is especially admirable.

她能认真听取不同意见，这一点难能可贵。

### Traditional Chinese

她能認真聽取不同意見，這一點難能可貴。

tā néng rèn zhēn tīng qǔ bù tóng yì jiàn ， zhè yì diǎn nán néng kě guì 。

Her willingness to listen carefully to different views is especially valuable.

这份细致的观察难能可贵。

### Traditional Chinese

這份細緻的觀察難能可貴。

zhè fèn xì zhì de guān chá nán néng kě guì 。

The careful observation is a particularly valuable achievement.

他愿意承认并改正错误，十分难能可贵。

### Traditional Chinese

他願意承認並改正錯誤，十分難能可貴。

tā yuàn yì chéng rèn bìng gǎi zhèng cuò wù ， shí fēn nán néng kě guì 。

His willingness to acknowledge and correct a mistake is especially admirable.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1392&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%9B%A3%E8%83%BD%E5%8F%AF%E8%B2%B4)

## Keep exploring

- [南腔北调 nán qiāng běi diào A mixture or variety of regional accents ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/nan-qiang-bei-diao)

- [难兄难弟 nàn xiōng nàn dì Companions sharing similar hardship ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/nan-xiong-nan-di)

- [年高德劭 nián gāo dé shào Be advanced in years and highly virtuous ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/nian-gao-de-shao)

- [排难解纷 pái nàn jiě fēn Resolve difficulties and settle disputes ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/pai-nan-jie-fen)

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