症结 zhēngjié hard lump in the abdomen
hard lump in the abdomen (in Chinese medicine); crux of an issue; main point in an argument; sticking point; deadlock in negotiations
How to remember 症结: 症 ailment + 结 tie up = hard lump in the abdomen.
Characters
How it is used
- The crux / root of a problem - 问题的症结在于资金 (wèntí de zhēngjié zàiyú zījīn) the crux of the problem is funding.
- Originally a hard lump in the abdomen (TCM); now almost always the figurative 'sticking point' blocking resolution.
- Note the reading zhēngjié (not zhèng); pairs with 找到/抓住 (to pinpoint) the core knot of an issue.