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March 24, 2026
窘jiǒng(jiong3)
The character 窘 (jiǒng) conveys feelings of distress, embarrassment, or being hard-pressed in a situation. It is often used to describe scenarios where one feels trapped or in a difficult position, both emotionally and socially. You might encounter this word in personal anecdotes or discussions about social faux pas.
Strokes12Radical穴Frequency#41254DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maintaining face and avoiding embarrassment is significant; thus, the concept of being '窘' resonates deeply in social interactions. Situations that cause embarrassment can lead to a loss of face, which is a crucial aspect of social etiquette in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person stuck in a narrow room (the radical 窗, meaning window, can evoke a sense of being boxed in) feeling embarrassed because they can't get out. The sound 'jiǒng' is like a gasp of surprise when they realize their predicament, making it easier to remember the feeling of being in a tight spot.
Meanings of 窘
jiǒng(jiong3)
1distressed; embarrassed; hard-pressed
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 窘
窘Simplified
12Strokes
穴Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 窘
Podcast: 窘
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AI Study Notes for 窘
Quick Contrast
窘 (jiǒng) vs 尴尬 (gān gà) — use 窘 when emphasizing a feeling of being trapped or hard-pressed, while 尴尬 focuses more on awkwardness in social situations.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person stuck in a narrow room (the radical 窗, meaning window, can evoke a sense of being boxed in) feeling embarrassed because they can't get out. The sound 'jiǒng' is like a gasp of surprise when they realize their predicament, making it easier to remember the feeling of being in a tight spot.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 窘 is typically used in more formal contexts, often describing situations rather than just emotions. It can be easily confused with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to the context in which it’s used. Common collocations include '感到窘迫' (gǎndào jiǒngpò, to feel embarrassed) or '感到窘境' (gǎndào jiǒngjìng, to find oneself in a difficult situation).
HSK Study Tips
While 窘 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners at the advanced levels. Focus on how it relates to other emotional state descriptors and practice using it in complex sentences to express nuanced feelings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maintaining face and avoiding embarrassment is significant; thus, the concept of being '窘' resonates deeply in social interactions. Situations that cause embarrassment can lead to a loss of face, which is a crucial aspect of social etiquette in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 窘 with similar characters like 尴尬 (gāngà) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我感到窘' (wǒ gǎndào jiǒng) is correct, but using it casually like '我窘了' (wǒ jiǒng le) can sound awkward; it's better to specify the context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 窘
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Grammar Patterns of 窘
窘 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
This will put us in a very difficult economic fix.
2
一提宗教就肯定会让他感到窘迫不安。
yī tí zōng jiào jiù kěn dìng huì ràng tā gǎn dào jiǒng pò bù ān。
Mentioning religion is a sure way to make him squirm.
3
他吸了吸鼻子，对这项提议感到窘迫不安，心烦意乱。
tā xī le xī bí zǐ， ， duì zhè xiàng tí yì gǎn dào jiǒng pò bù， ān ， xīn fán。
He sniffed, fidgeting in discomfort, uneasy at the suggestion.
4
她因自己个子高而困窘。
tā yīn zì jǐ gè zǐ gāo ér kùn jiǒng。
She's embarrassed about her height.
5
该地区的消费者经济窘迫，在奢侈品上的开销比以前少了。
gāi dì qū de xiāo fèi zhě jīng jì jiǒng pò， ， zài shē chǐ pǐn shàng de kāi xiāo bǐ yǐ qián shǎo。
The region's hard-pressed consumers are spending less on luxuries.
6
篱笆, 窝棚,什么都七倒八歪,叫你一眼就瞧出那穷形窘状.
lí bā, , wō, péng , shí mó dū qī dǎo, bā wāi , jiào nǐ yī yǎn jiù qiáo chū nà qióng.
Fences , sheds , everything had a ruined look, and were eloquent of poverty.
7
那姑娘窘得涨红了脸.
nà gū niáng jiǒng dé zhǎng hóng le liǎn.
The girl's face was aflame with embarrassment.
8
他窘得脸都红了.
tā jiǒng dé liǎn dū hóng le.
His face reddened with embarrassment.
9
他困窘得直抓头皮.
tā kùn jiǒng dé zhí zhuā tóu pí.
He scratched his head in perplexity.
10
如果我换在他的地位上, 我会感到很困窘,也不会像他那样心平气静.
rú guǒ wǒ huàn zài tā de dì wèi shàng, , wǒ huì gǎn dào hěn kùn, jiǒng , yě bù huì xiàng tā nà yàng xīn píng.
In his place, I should have been more embarrassed and less calm.
Cultural Notes for 窘
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, maintaining face and avoiding embarrassment is significant; thus, the concept of being '窘' resonates deeply in social interactions. Situations that cause embarrassment can lead to a loss of face, which is a crucial aspect of social etiquette in China.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, embarrassment might be seen as a lighter, more humorous experience, while in Chinese culture, it can carry more severe implications for one's reputation and social standing.
Word Family of 窘
Words Containing This Character7
窘境predicament
窘迫jiǒngpòvery poor
窘jiǒngdistressed
困窘embarrassment
受窘embarrassed
窘况predicament窘況
发窘disconcerted發窘
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 窘境 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 窘
You can use words like 尴尬 (gāngà, awkward) or 困窘 (kùnjiǒng, difficult) to express similar feelings.
Yes, but it tends to be more formal; in casual settings, you might prefer using 尴尬 instead.
No, it can also describe situations, such as a '窘境' (difficult situation) that causes embarrassment.
