难题

• Pinyin: nán tí
• Hanzi breakdown: 难 (nán) — difficult; 题 (tí) — question, topic, problem

Meaning

Difficult problem; tough question; challenge. A problem that is hard to solve.

Can refer to difficult academic questions, real-life challenges, or complex issues. Used in both educational and professional contexts. Often paired with 解决 (to solve): 解决难题 (solve a difficult problem).

Examples

1. 这道数学难题我不会做。 I can't solve this difficult maths problem.
2. 公司正面临一个难题。 The company is facing a tough challenge.
3. 他帮我解决了一个大难题。 He helped me solve a big problem.

Usage Guide

Context: education, work, problem-solving

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这是一个很大的难题。(This is a big challenge.)
• 我们一起想办法解决这个难题。(Let's think of a way to solve this problem together.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'很难题' (Don't say 很难题 — 难题 is a noun, not an adjective; say 很难的题 or 一道难题)

Origin & History

Compound of 难 (difficult) and 题 (topic, question, problem). A straightforward compound meaning 'difficult question/problem'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal