Chinese word

困境

Pronunciation

Pinyinkùn jìng

Meaning

nounpredicament

Example

公司因为订单减少，陷入了困境。gōng sī yīn wèi dìng dān jián shǎo xiàn rù le kùn jìng

The company is in a predicament because its orders have decreased.

More examples

在国际市场波动时，公司需要及时应对困境。zài guó jì shì chǎng bō dòng shí gōng sī xū yào jí shí yìng duì kùn jìng

When the international market fluctuates, the company needs to promptly cope with its predicament.

Core concept

A difficult situation closes off normal ways forward and demands a solution.

Common phrases

应对困境yìng duì kùn jìng
cope with a predicament
缓解困境huán jiě kùn jìng
alleviate a predicament
深陷困境shēn xiàn kùn jìng
be deeply mired in a predicament

Similar words

困难kùn nán: A difficult state in which obstacles make something hard to do.
难题nán tí: A specific problem that needs time and careful thought to solve.
逆境nì jìng: A difficult situation caused by unfavorable conditions that make success hard.

Definition in Chinese

遭遇到阻碍或困难，处在难以解决或摆脱的情形或状态。zāo yù dào zǔ ài huò kùn nán chǔ zài nán yí jiě jué huò bǎi tuō de qíng xíng huò zhuàng tài

Word origin

困境 (kùnjìng, "predicament") is formed from 困 (kùn, "confined") + 境 (jìng, "situation"), giving the image of circumstances that confine someone.

Usage tips

As a noun, 困境 (kùnjìng, "predicament") describes the situation itself, while worry or sadness must be expressed separately.

Other meanings

difficultynoun

Opposites

顺境shùn jìngfavorable circumstancesnoun