Definition
困窘 is a stative verb (s.v.) that covers two related but distinct types of difficulty: social embarrassment or awkwardness (feeling trapped or humiliated in a situation), and economic hardship (being destitute or poverty-stricken). It is a relatively formal word often used in written Chinese or serious conversation. As a stative verb, it can be modified by 很 or 十分, and it typically appears as a predicate or as a modifier.
s.v.
(stative verb) embarrassedawkward (in a social situation)(stative verb) impoverishedin financial distress
Examples
- 困窘。Tā yīn wèi shuō cuò huà ér gǎn dào shí fēn kùn jiǒng.He felt very embarrassed because he said the wrong thing.
- 困窘。Nà duàn shíjiān tāmen jiā shēnghuó shí fēn kùn jiǒng.During that period, their family lived in great poverty.
- ，困窘。Miàn duì zhème duō rén de zhìwèn, tā xiǎn de hěn kùn jiǒng.Facing so many people's questions, she seemed very embarrassed.
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