Chinese word

艰难

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiān nán

Meaning

  • adjectivehard

Example

这段时间对我来说很艰难。zhè duàn shí jiān duì wǒ lái shuō hěn jiān nán

This is a very difficult time for me.

Illustration for 艰难 (hard)

More examples

他在艰难岁月里学会了坚强。tā zài jiān nán suì yuè lǐ xué huì le jiān qiáng

He learned to be strong during hard times.

Core concept

A heavy burden makes progress costly, requiring great effort to reach the other side.

Common phrases

  • 经历艰难jīng lì jiān nán

    go through hardship

  • 艰难岁月jiān nán suì yuè

    hard times

  • 艰难局面jiān nán jú miàn

    difficult situation

Similar words

困难kùn nán: Difficult to solve or carry out because obstacles prevent easy progress.
困苦kùn kǔ: Marked by poverty or hardship that makes daily life difficult.
艰苦jiān kǔ: Involving harsh work or conditions that cause severe physical or mental strain.
艰辛jiān xīn: Involving long-lasting hardship that gradually wears down the body and mind.

Definition in Chinese

指困难程度大、过程痛苦或消耗多，需要付出很大努力才能完成的情况。zhǐ kùn nán chéng dù dà guò chéng tòng kǔ huò xiāo hào duō xū yào fù chū hěn dà nǔ lì cái néng wán chéng de qíng kuàng

Word origin

艰 (jiān, "hardship") + 难 (nán, "difficulty") forms a compound that emphasizes difficulty requiring effort and endurance.

Usage tips

  • English often uses "hard" for both serious struggles and minor tasks, but this Chinese adjective usually carries a sense of real strain, making it too strong for a small annoyance.

Other meanings

  • toughadjective
  • tryingadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 艰难困苦jiān nán kùn kǔhardship and sufferingidiom

Word lists with this word