国难 (guó nán) — national calamity or crisis (especially one cau…

Definition

Refers specifically to a national crisis caused by foreign invasion or war — more politically and historically charged than a generic 'crisis' (危机).

noun

national calamity or crisis (especially one caused by foreign aggression)

国难，。
guó nán Dāng tóu, quán guó shàng xià tuán jié yí zhì.
At a time of national crisis, the whole country united as one.
国难。
Nà chǎng zhàn zhēng gěi zhōng guó dài lái le jù dà de guó nán.
That war brought immense national calamity to China.
国难。
Wǒ men jué bù néng wàng jì nà duàn guó nán suì yuè.
We must never forget that era of national crisis.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

难nándisaster

国 and 难 name a disaster of the country.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 國; 国 is its simplified writing.

囗或國

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéiclosure

Sound part声符shēngfú

或

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 國 uses 囗 to show closure and 或 to give the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

隹隹zhuībird

Sound part声符shēngfú

暵

暵hàn難nán

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.