have difficulty in doing sth.
英 /hæv dɪˈfɪkəlti ɪn ˈduːɪŋ sʌmθɪŋ/美 /hæv dɪˈfɪkəlti ɪn ˈduːɪŋ sʌmθɪŋ/
phrase
在做某事方面有困难;难以做某事
核心含义
该固定搭配的核心含义是“在做某事方面存在困难”,强调动作执行过程中的障碍或费力。本义指在具体行动中遇到阻力,如“have difficulty in climbing the mountain”(爬山有困难),引申为在抽象任务或认知活动中遇到挑战,如“have difficulty in understanding the theory”(理解这个理论有困难)。进一步引申可表示因客观条件或主观能力不足而难以达成目标,如“have difficulty in finding a job”(找工作有困难)。各义项之间由具体到抽象,由行动到认知,由障碍到结果,层层递进。
构词与来源
该搭配由“have”和“difficulty”构成。“difficulty”源自拉丁语“difficultas”,由“dis-”(不)和“facilis”(容易的)组成,意为“不容易”。构词逻辑是“拥有困难”,即“遇到困难”。记忆时可联想:dis-(不)+ facilis(容易)→ 不容易 → 困难。因此,“have difficulty in doing sth.”字面即“在做事方面拥有不容易”,自然理解为“做某事有困难”。
适用语境
该搭配广泛用于学术写作、日常口语、商务邮件和新闻报道中。在学术写作中,语气正式客观,常描述研究或学习中的障碍,如“Participants had difficulty in recalling the events.”(参与者在回忆事件时有困难)。在日常口语中,语气自然,常表达个人经历,如“I had difficulty in finding your house.”(我找你家费了劲)。在商务邮件中,用于委婉说明问题,如“We have difficulty in meeting the deadline.”(我们难以按时完成)。新闻报道中,用于客观陈述事实,如“Many families have difficulty in paying rent.”(许多家庭付房租有困难)。不同场景下,基本含义不变,但正式程度和委婉程度有所差异。
用法要点
该搭配中“have”是及物动词,后接“difficulty”作宾语,再接介词“in”和动名词短语。注意:“difficulty”通常为不可数名词,不加“a”或复数;“in”后可接动名词,但不接不定式。常见句型为“have difficulty (in) doing sth.”,其中“in”可省略,如“have difficulty doing sth.”。易错点:误用不定式“to do”代替“doing”,或误加“to”在“difficulty”前。另外,“have”可根据时态和人称变化,如“has”, “had”, “having”。
同义词区别
与“have trouble doing sth.”和“have a hard time doing sth.”意思相近,但语气和用法略有差异。“have trouble”更口语化,且“trouble”可数不可数均可,如“have trouble finding the place”。“have a hard time”更强调经历艰难,语气较强烈,如“had a hard time convincing him”。“have difficulty”则更正式、中性,常用于书面语。选择时,正式场合用“difficulty”,日常口语可用“trouble”,强调艰辛时用“hard time”。另外,“find it difficult to do sth.”也是同义表达,但结构不同。
使用注意
该搭配属于中性表达,无褒贬色彩,但正式程度较高,适合书面和正式口语。常见误用包括:将“difficulty”误用为复数“difficulties”,或误加不定冠词“a”;将“in”误用为“of”或“to”;将动名词误用为动词原形。此外,在非正式场合,过度使用会显得生硬,可改用“struggle with”等表达。注意区分“difficulty”与“difficult”的词性,避免混淆。
词语搭配
| have difficulty in doing sth. | 做某事有困难 |
| have difficulty with sth. | 在某方面有困难 |
| have great difficulty in | 在……方面有很大困难 |
| have some difficulty in | 在……方面有些困难 |
| have no difficulty in | 在……方面没有困难 |
| have difficulty in breathing | 呼吸困难 |
| have difficulty in understanding | 理解有困难 |
| have difficulty in communicating | 交流有困难 |
例句
- She had difficulty in solving the math problem.她解这道数学题有困难。
- Many students have difficulty in concentrating during long lectures.许多学生在长课时难以集中注意力。
- We had difficulty in finding a parking spot near the mall.我们很难在商场附近找到停车位。
- The company has difficulty in adapting to the new regulations.公司难以适应新规定。
- He has difficulty in expressing his emotions.他不善于表达自己的情感。
- Did you have any difficulty in getting the visa?你办签证有困难吗?