艰难 jiānnán difficult
difficult; hard; challenging
How to remember 艰难: 艰 difficult + 难 difficult = difficult.
Characters
How it is used
- Difficult / hard-going (of circumstances) - 处境艰难 (chǔjìng jiānnán) in a tough situation.
- Describes conditions and progress that are grueling: 艰难的选择 (jiānnán de xuǎnzé) an agonizing choice, 举步艰难 hard to take a step.
- More formal/weighty than 难 (nán); pairs with life, journeys, decisions rather than simple tasks.
Example sentences
- 这是个很艰难的斗争。 Zhè shì gè hěn jiānnán de dòuzhēng.It was an uphill struggle.
- 这个月我过得有点艰难。 Zhège yuè wǒ guò de yǒudiǎn jiānnán.This month was kind of difficult.
- 这名老妇艰难地爬上楼梯。 Zhèmíng lǎofù jiānnán de pá shàng lóutī.The old lady climbed the stairs with difficulty.