Japanese word

難

Pronunciation

Romajinan

Meaning

  • noundifficulty

Example

彼は大きな難を乗り越えました。kare wa ō ki na nan o no ri ko e ma shi ta

He overcame a great difficulty.

Illustration for 難 (difficulty)

More examples

チーム全員でその難に立ち向かいました。chī mu zen in de so no nan ni ta chi mu ka i ma shi ta

The whole team faced that difficulty together.

Core concept

Presents a task or situation as requiring effort to overcome.

Common phrases

  • 難に遭うnan ni a u

    encounter a difficulty

  • 難を切り抜けるnan o ki ri nu ke ru

    get through a difficulty

Similar words

困難konnan: A state in which a task or situation is hard to deal with.
難題nandai: A question or problem that demands a difficult solution.
苦難kunan: Hardship or suffering caused by difficult circumstances.
試練shiren: A demanding experience that tests a person's ability or character.

Definition in Japanese

物事を進めたり解決したりするのが容易でない状態。mono goto o susu me ta ri kai ketsu shi ta ri su ru no ga yō i de na i jō tai

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 難 (nan, "difficulty") comes from the Chinese character 難, which denotes difficulty or hardship.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 難 (nan, "difficulty") is less common by itself than in fixed expressions and compounds, while 難しい (muzukashii) is the usual everyday form for "difficult."

Other meanings

  • hardshipnoun
  • troublenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word