/'dɪfɪkəltɪ; `dɪfə,kəltɪ/
n
1 [U] ~ (in sth/in doing sth) state or quality of being difficult; trouble or effort that sth involves 困难; 艰难; 困难性; 难度
*the sheer difficulty of the task 这项任务的高难度
* Bad planning will lead to difficulty later. 计划不善会给今後带来困难.
* do sth with/without difficulty 费劲地[不费劲地]做某事
* She got the door open, but only with some difficulty. 她倒是把门打开了, 但却花了些力气.
* I had the greatest difficulty in persuading her. 我为了说服她, 费了好大的劲.
* We had no difficulty (in) finding the house. 我们毫不费劲地找到了那所房子.
2 [C usu pl 通常作复数] difficult thing to do, understand or deal with 难做、难懂、难应付的事; 难事; 难点; 难题
*the difficulties of English syntax 英语句法的难点
* be working under some difficulty, ie in difficult circumstances 在艰苦的条件下工作
* She met with many difficulties when travelling. 她在旅行时遇到了许多伤脑筋的事.
* financial difficulties, ie problems about money 财务困难
* We got into difficulty/difficulties with the rent, ie found it hard to pay. 我们付不出租钱了.
* I want to marry her, but my parents are making/creating difficulties, ie making things hard for us. 我想娶她, 但我父母从中阻挠.

npluraldifficulties
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin;Origin: difficultas, from difficilis 'difficult', from facilis 'easy']
[U]
if you have difficulty doing something, it is difficult for you to do
have/experience difficulty (in) doing sth
　They had great difficulty in finding a replacement.
with/without difficulty
　He got to his feet with difficulty.
[C usually plural]
a problem or something that causes trouble
difficulty with
　There are several difficulties with this theory.
　If you have any difficulties , give me a call.
　The project soon ran into difficulties .
　Difficulties can arise when there is more than one defendant.
　We're confident that the legal difficulties can be overcome .
　The rearrangement of school classes may cause timetabling difficulties .
　Their ten years of marriage have been fraught with difficulties .
the practical difficulties of prosecuting alleged war criminals
　The broadcast was delayed because of technical difficulties .
　She developed breathing difficulties during the night.
[U]
if you are in difficulty, you are in a situation in which you have problems
in difficulty
　The business is in financial difficulty.
get/run into difficulty
(=get into a difficult situation)
　She soon got into difficulty with debt.
[U]
the quality of being difficult to do
the difficulty of (doing) sth
　the difficulty of solving such problems
[U]
how difficult something is
　The tests vary in difficulty.
→learning difficulties

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HINT sense 1
Do not say that someone 'has difficulty to do something'. Say that someone has difficulty doing something or has difficulty in doing something .
COLLOCATES for sense 2
have/experience/encounter difficulties
run/get into difficulties (=experience difficulties)
difficulties arise
overcome difficulties
cause difficulties (for somebody)
be fraught with/beset by difficulties (=involve a lot of difficulties)
practical difficulties
mechanical/technical difficulties
financial difficulties (=a bad financial situation)
breathing difficulties
behavioural difficulties (=bad behaviour)
marital difficulties (=problems between a husband and wife)

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