Definition
难能可贵 (nán néng kě guì) is a set phrase meaning 'rare and commendable' — it praises a quality or action that is hard to achieve and thus admirable. Unlike 难得一见 (nán dé yí jiàn), which focuses on something rarely encountered, 难能可贵 highlights the admirable effort behind the rarity. It is stronger than 凤毛麟角 (fèng máo lín jiǎo), which simply describes extreme scarcity without necessarily implying praise.
phrase
rare and commendableadmirableremarkable
Examples
- 难能可贵。Tā zhè zhǒng jiānchí búxiè de jīngshén zhēn shì nán néng kě guì.His persistent and unyielding spirit is truly admirable.
- ，，难能可贵。Zài zhège fúzào de shídài, néng jìng xià xīn lái dú shū dúshū, shízài nán néng kě guì.In this restless era, being able to calm down and read is truly rare and commendable.
- ，难能可贵。Tā jiānchí xuéxí Zhōngwén duō nián, zhè zhǒng yìlì shízài nán néng kě guì.She has persisted in learning Chinese for many years — such perseverance is truly remarkable.
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