Chinese word

泥潭

Pronunciation

Pinyinní tán

Meaning

  • nounquagmire

Example

这件事已经成了泥潭，很难解决。zhè jiàn shì yǐ jīng chéng le ní tán hěn nán jiě jué

This matter has already become a quagmire, and it is hard to solve.

Illustration for 泥潭 (quagmire)

More examples

这家公司因为项目失败陷入泥潭，难以为继。zhè jiā gōng sī yīn wèi xiàng mù shī bài xiàn rù ní tán nán yǐ wéi jì

The company fell into a quagmire because the project failed and is struggling to continue.

Core concept

A problem like soft ground: each attempt to cross it sinks deeper instead of reaching solid ground.

Common phrases

  • 陷入泥潭xiàn rù ní tán

    become trapped in a quagmire

  • 摆脱泥潭bǎi tuō ní tán

    break free from a quagmire

  • 走出泥潭zǒu chū ní tán

    get out of a quagmire

Similar words

泥沼ní zhǎo: A worsening situation with tangled problems that is difficult to escape.
困境kùn jìng: A difficult situation where things go poorly and solving the problem is not easy.
僵局jiāng jú: A deadlocked situation where talks or events stop moving forward and no breakthrough seems likely.
危机wēi jī: A serious and urgent situation in which danger or harm may soon become real.

Definition in Chinese

指人或事陷入难以自拔、越陷越深的困境，经常用于描述纠纷或问题的长期化。zhǐ rén huò shì xiàn rù nán yǐ zì bá yuè xiàn yuè shēn de kùn jìng jīng cháng yòng yú miáo shù jiū fēn huò wèn tí de cháng qī huà

Word origin

泥 (ní, "mud") + 潭 (tán, "deep pool") creates the literal picture of a muddy pool, which naturally develops into a figurative picture of an intractable situation.

Usage tips

  • The word suits disputes and problems that keep dragging on, not just a single setback that can be fixed quickly.

Other meanings

  • mud pitnoun
  • mud puddlenoun

Opposites

  • 出路chū lùescape routenoun
  • 顺境shùn jìngfavorable circumstancesnoun

Word lists with this word