hardly是什么意思

What Does "Hardly" Mean?

Hardly is a word that is commonly used in everyday conversations. It is often used to convey a negative meaning or to indicate that something is difficult or unlikely to happen. In this article, we will explore the different meanings and uses of the word "hardly."

Definition of "Hardly"

The word "hardly" is an adverb that is used to indicate that something is scarcely or barely the case. It can also be used to mean "almost not" or "with great difficulty."

For example, if someone says, "I can hardly hear you," they mean that they can barely hear the person they are speaking to. Similarly, if someone says, "I can hardly wait," they mean that they are impatient and eager for something to happen.

Using "Hardly" in Negative Sentences

One of the most common uses of "hardly" is in negative sentences. It is often used to convey the idea that something is not happening or is unlikely to happen.

For example, someone might say, "I hardly ever go to the gym," which means that they rarely or almost never go to the gym. Similarly, someone might say, "He hardly spoke during the meeting," which means that the person spoke very little or almost not at all during the meeting.

"Hardly" as an Emphasis Word

Another common use of "hardly" is to emphasize the difficulty of something or to convey that something is almost impossible. This use is often seen in the phrase "hardly a day goes by," which means that something happens almost every day.

For example, someone might say, "I can hardly believe how much work we have to do," which emphasizes the difficulty of the task at hand. Similarly, someone might say, "That movie was hardly worth watching," which conveys that the movie was almost not worth watching at all.

Examples of "Hardly" in Literature

Many writers use the word "hardly" in their works to create a sense of urgency, difficulty, or disbelief. For example, in William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest," the character Prospero says, "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep." This line emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and conveys the idea that life is almost not real.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," the narrator Nick Carraway says, "I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon." The use of "hardly" in this sentence conveys the idea that the narrator rarely drinks and emphasizes the significance of the event.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the word "hardly" is a versatile adverb that can convey a range of meanings, from emphasizing the difficulty of something to indicating that something is almost not happening. It is a common word in everyday conversations as well as in literature and writing.