难堪 nánkān hard to take
hard to take; embarrassed
How to remember 难堪: 难 difficult + 堪 to endure = hard to take.
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How it is used
- Hard to bear, or acutely embarrassed - 让他很难堪 (ràng tā hěn nánkān) to put him in an awkward, humiliating spot.
- Two senses: unbearable (痛苦得难堪) and mortified. The 'embarrassing/humiliating' sense is most common.
- Stronger than 难为情; 难堪 implies real loss of face or an unbearable situation.