The phrases 好容易 and 好不容易
Both phrases mean that it is extremely difficult to do or finish something.
The phrase 好不容易 
emphasizes that it is difficult to do something.
It is placed either before a verb or a verb phrase.
emphasizes that it is difficult to do something.
It is placed either before a verb or a verb phrase. Pay attention
In some cases, 好不容易 is followed by the particle 地 .
.Examples
我好不容易做完了考试
I finally finished the exam
wǒ hǎo bù róngyì zuòwán le kǎoshì
男孩好不容易地钻过树篱，向我们跑来
The boy managed to get through the hedge and ran towards us
nánhái hăo bù róngyì de zuànguò shùlí, xiàng wŏmen păolái
You can use 好容易 instead of 好不容易.
Pay attention
好容易 can also mean "easy", and is most commonly used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guangdong and Fujian.
Examples
你好容易得到这个机会，怎么突然决定放弃呢
It was so difficult for you to get this opportunity. Why did you suddenly decide to give it up?
nǐ hǎo róngyì dédào zhè ge jīhuì, zěnme túrán juédìng fàngqì ne
好容易捉到他，不能随便的放手
It was so hard to catch him. I couldn't just let him go
hǎo róngyì zhuōdào tā, bù néng suíbiàn de fàngshǒu
These phrases are often used with the adverb 才 to give more emotional coloring to a sentence.
to give more emotional coloring to a sentence.
Examples
他好不容易才读完这本书
He managed to finish reading the book
tā hǎo bù róngyì cái dúwán zhè běn shū
我今天好容易才得到了高分，我真的很惊讶
It was so difficult for me to get a high score today. I was really surprised
wǒ jīntiān hǎo róngyì cái dédào le gāo fēn, wǒ zhēn de hěn jīngyà
If a subject is expressed by either a verb or verb phrase, 好不容易 is placed after it.
In this case, the sentence expresses that "doing something is not easy".
Examples
早起好不容易
It's hard to get up early
zǎo qǐ hǎo bù róngyì
在小的房子里养狗好不容易
It's hard to live with a dog in a small house
zài xiǎo de fángzi lǐ yǎng gǒu hǎo bù róngyì