解困 (jiě kùn) — to solve a difficulty; to relieve a predicament

Definition

A formal compound verb meaning 'to resolve a difficulty or predicament' — stronger than 解决 (to solve in general) because 困 emphasizes being stuck in trouble. Common in business and official writing.

verb
to solve a difficultyto relieve a predicament
Easily confused

Examples

  • 解困。
    Gōng sī jí xū zī jīn lái jiě kùn.
    The company urgently needs funds to solve its difficulties.
  • 。
    Tā bāng wǒ men jiě le rán méi zhī jí de kùn.
    He helped us solve an urgent crisis.
  • 。
    Zhè cì hé zuò néng jiě wǒ men zī jīn shàng de kùn.
    This cooperation can relieve our funding difficulties.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

解jiěsolve
困kùndifficulty

"解" means to solve or relieve, and "困" is the difficulty being solved.

Characters in this word

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

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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