窘困 (jiǒng kùn) — hard-pressed; in a difficult situation; very poor; destitute

Definition

Literary/formal adjective meaning 'hard-pressed or destitute', used in writing rather than daily speech. Stronger than 困难 (difficulty); emphasizes poverty or a tight situation, not just any problem.

adjective
hard-pressedin a difficult situationvery poordestitute

Examples

  • 窘困，。
    Tā zuì jìn jīng jì jiǒng kùn, lián fáng zū dōu fù bù qǐ.
    He's been hard-pressed financially lately; he can't even afford the rent.
  • 窘困，。
    Nà ge jiā tíng fēi cháng jiǒng kùn, hái zi men lián fàn dōu chī bù bǎo.
    That family is very poor; the children can't even get enough to eat.
  • 窘困，。
    Tā miàn lín jiǒng kùn de jìng dì, què yī rán bǎo chí lè guān.
    He faces a hard-pressed situation, yet remains optimistic.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

窘jiǒnghard-pressed
困kùnpoor

窘 and 困 both convey being hard-pressed and poor.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 窘 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 囗囗wéisurround
  • 木木mùwood

困 is drawn as 木 (wood) enclosed by 囗 (surround). The evidence says this was probably the original form of a word meaning 'doorsill'.

Open 困 →

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