困难
Traditional: 困難
kùn nan HSK 4

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

学习中文有困难。
Xuéxí Zhōngwén yǒu kùnnan.
Learning Chinese has difficulties.
他克服了很多困难。
Tā kèfú le hěnduō kùnnan.
He overcame many difficulties.
困难的时候朋友帮助我。
Kùnnan de shíhou péngyou bāngzhù wǒ.
Friends help me in difficult times.
这个困难很大。
Zhège kùnnan hěn dà.
This difficulty is very big.
我遇到困难了。
Wǒ yù dào kùnnan le.
I have encountered a difficulty.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 困 (kùn) means 'to be trapped' or 'in distress,' and 难 (nán) means 'hard' or 'difficult.' Imagine being 'trapped in a hard situation'—that's a 困难. The pinyin 'kùnnan' sounds a bit like 'coon-nan,' which you could think of as a 'raccoon in a nan' (a tiny, difficult space).

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese across various contexts, such as work, study, life challenges, or personal endeavors. It often appears in expressions describing facing, encountering, or solving difficulties.

📖 Grammar Points

As a noun, 困难 can be used as a subject (e.g., 困难很大), object (e.g., 遇到困难), or modified by adjectives (e.g., 巨大的困难). It can also function as an adjective meaning 'difficult' in some contexts (e.g., 困难的工作), though this is less common than its noun usage.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, openly discussing 困难, especially in work or study, is often seen as a step toward seeking collective solutions, reflecting values of perseverance (吃苦耐劳) and community support. It's common to acknowledge difficulties while emphasizing efforts to overcome them.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 难题 (nántí), which specifically means 'difficult problem' or 'puzzle' often requiring a solution, 困难 is broader, covering hardships or adverse conditions. 麻烦 (máfan) means 'trouble' or 'bother,' focusing more on inconvenience or nuisance, while 困难 implies a more serious challenge.

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