不难发现

You usually put this phrase at the very beginning of a sentence. It sets the stage for the observation you are about to share. The structure is simple: 不难发现 + [the thing you noticed]. For example, if your friend is wearing a band t-shirt, you might say it's not hard to find they like music. It flows naturally into both spoken and written Chinese. It acts as a bridge between evidence and your conclusion.

This phrase is a superstar in professional settings. Use it in a meeting when analyzing data. Use it in an essay to introduce a key point. However, it also works great in casual chats. You can use it when texting a friend about a mutual acquaintance's behavior. It’s perfect for when you want to sound a bit more thoughtful. Use it when the evidence is right in front of everyone's eyes.

Do not use this for physical objects you literally found on the floor. If you found your lost keys, don't say 不难发现. That sounds like you're writing a police report about your own pocket. Use 找到了 instead. Also, avoid using it for things that are actually very hidden or secret. If it took you ten years to uncover a mystery, calling it 'not difficult to find' is a bit of an understatement! Finally, don't use it if you're just expressing a wild guess.

Chinese culture often values a sense of 'objective' observation. Using a double negative like 不难 (not difficult) instead of just saying 'easy' is a common rhetorical device. it sounds more modest and less aggressive. It suggests that the truth is simply revealing itself to anyone who looks. This 'soft' way of pointing out the obvious helps maintain social harmony. It feels less like you are teaching someone and more like you are sharing a discovery.

You will often hear 不难看出 (bù nán kànchū), which means 'not hard to see.' This is almost identical but focuses more on visual observation. In very formal writing, you might see 显而易见 (xiǎn ér yì jiàn), which means 'obvious.' But 不难发现 is the perfect middle ground. It’s smart enough for a report but friendly enough for a coffee date.