困境

• Pinyin: kùn jìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 困 = 囗 (enclosure) + 木 (tree) — trapped; 境 = 土 (earth) + 竟 (finish) — situation/boundary

Meaning

Predicament; dilemma; difficult situation. A challenging circumstance with no easy way out.

Describes a state of difficulty or hardship that is not easily resolved. Can refer to financial troubles, career dead-ends, relationship problems, or any situation where one feels trapped.

Examples

1. 公司正面临前所未有的财务困境。 The company is facing an unprecedented financial predicament.
2. 如何摆脱困境是他目前最大的难题。 How to escape from this predicament is his biggest challenge right now.
3. 疫情让不少中小企业陷入困境。 The pandemic has left many small and medium enterprises in difficult situations.

Usage Guide

Context: business, life challenges, news, analysis

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他正想办法走出困境。(He is trying to find a way out of this predicament.)
• 陷入困境后，他才意识到问题的严重性。(Only after falling into difficulty did he realize the severity of the problem.)

Don't Say

• 用困境描述轻微的不便。(困境 implies serious difficulty — use 麻烦 or 问题 for minor inconveniences)

Origin & History

Compound of 困 (trapped/difficulty) + 境 (situation/circumstance). Literally 'trapped circumstances.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal