难能可贵

難能可貴

nánnéngkěguì

idiom #41,173

Meanings

1 rare and precious (idiom)
2 praiseworthy for being difficult to achieve
3 valuable and hard to come by

Characters

precious; valuable

Examples

在这个年代，这种诚实难能可贵。

Zài zhège niándài, zhè zhǒng chéngshí nánnéngkěguì.

In this day and age, such honesty is rare and precious.

他小小年纪就能坚持不懈，难能可贵。

Tā xiǎoxiǎo niánjì jiù néng jiānchí bùxiè, nánnéngkěguì.

For someone so young to persevere is admirable and rare.

她的善良难能可贵。

Tā de shànliáng nánnéngkěguì.

Her kindness is truly rare and valuable.

Tips

history

From Su Shi's 《荀卿论》 (Song): 子路之勇，子贡之辩，冉有之智…皆天下之所谓难能而可贵者 — the courage of Zilu, eloquence of Zigong, wisdom of Ran You: qualities 'hard to attain, therefore precious'.

usage

Always praising — stresses that the quality or act is hard to achieve, which is why it's valued. Often follows a description: 'X is Y — 难能可贵'.

Stroke Order

难 nán

能 néng

可 kě

贵 guì