# 谈何容易

tán hé róng yì

Much harder to do than to say

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** How could it be easy to speak of it

**Traditional Chinese:** 談何容易

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Point out the practical difficulty behind an apparently simple proposal.

Follow it with the real difficulty rather than dismissing the goal.

## The image & its use

A short sentence can hide a long task. Asking someone to make a perfectly clear map of an unfamiliar place sounds simple until the missing measurements and changing paths become apparent. This expression answers that gap between easy talk and demanding work. It may introduce a serious obstacle or a gentle reminder that effort is required. Its most constructive use explains the obstacle and helps set a workable next step, so it does not merely turn a hopeful suggestion into discouragement.

## Examples

要在一天内整理完这些资料，谈何容易。

### Traditional Chinese

要在一天內整理完這些資料，談何容易。

yào zài yì tiān nèi zhěng lǐ wán zhè xiē zī liào ， tán hé róng yì 。

Sorting all this material in a single day is much easier said than done.

把复杂原理讲得人人都懂，谈何容易。

### Traditional Chinese

把複雜原理講得人人都懂，談何容易。

bǎ fù zá yuán lǐ jiǎng dé rén rén dōu dǒng ， tán hé róng yì 。

Explaining a complex principle so everyone understands is no easy task.

保持每天练习谈何容易，但可以先从十分钟开始。

### Traditional Chinese

保持每天練習談何容易，但可以先從十分鐘開始。

bǎo chí měi tiān liàn xí tán hé róng yì ， dàn kě yǐ xiān cóng shí fēn zhōng kāi shǐ 。

Daily practice is not easy, but we can start with ten minutes.

想让所有安排都恰到好处，谈何容易。

### Traditional Chinese

想讓所有安排都恰到好處，談何容易。

xiǎng ràng suǒ yǒu ān pái dōu qià dào hǎo chù ， tán hé róng yì 。

Getting every arrangement just right is easier said than done.

## 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=1206&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%AB%87%E4%BD%95%E5%AE%B9%E6%98%93)

## Keep exploring

- [探囊取物 tàn náng qǔ wù Do something with great ease ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tan-nang-qu-wu)

- [天衣无缝 tiān yī wú fèng So well made or coordinated that no flaw is apparent ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tian-yi-wu-feng)

- [脱颖而出 tuō yǐng ér chū Stand out through evident talent ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tuo-ying-er-chu)

- [玩物丧志 wán wù sàng zhì Lose ambition through excessive indulgence ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wan-wu-sang-zhi)

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