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困 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
困
kùn
to trap
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
困
kùn
to surround
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
困
kùn
hard-pressed
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
困
kùn
stranded
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
困
kùn
destitute
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
困
kùn
sleepy
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
困
kùn
tired
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
困
kùn
to surround; to besiege; surrounded, in distress; poor; tired, sleepy
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 囗, rank #1765, Medium
kùn(kun4)kun T4
1to trap
2to surround
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March 24, 2026
困kùn(kun4)
困 (kùn) primarily means to trap or surround someone or something. It is often used to describe a feeling of being hard-pressed or in a difficult situation, as well as a state of tiredness or sleepiness. In various contexts, it can refer to physical entrapment as well as emotional or situational distress.
Strokes7Radical囗Frequency#1765DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being '困' (kùn) can often imply not only a physical state but also a social or economic condition, reflecting the importance of community support in times of distress. This character is frequently used in literature and conversation to express deeper struggles.
Memory tip
Imagine being surrounded by a '困' (kùn) of walls, trapping you inside. The character's components suggest confinement: the outer box represents the trap, while the '木' (wood) inside symbolizes being stuck in a forest of trees when you are too sleepy to find your way out.
Meanings of 困
kùn(kun4)
1to trap
2to surround
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 困
困Simplified
7Strokes
囗Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1765Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 困
Podcast: 困
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AI study notes for 困
Quick Contrast
困 (kùn) vs 难 (nán): use 困 for feelings of being trapped or hard-pressed, while 难 emphasizes difficulty or hardship.
Usage Notes
When using 困 (kùn), be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. It is more common in informal contexts, but can also appear in writing about feelings or situations of distress. Common collocations include '困扰' (kùn rǎo - to be troubled) and '困倦' (kùn juàn - fatigued).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 困 (kùn) connects with other verbs related to emotional states and physical conditions, such as 累 (lèi - tired) and 难 (nán - difficult). Learners should focus on its various meanings and practice using it in sentences describing feelings of being trapped or tired.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 困 (kùn) with 累 (lèi), which also means tired but does not carry the connotation of being trapped. For example, saying '我很困' (wǒ hěn kùn) is correct for feeling sleepy, while saying '我很累' (wǒ hěn lèi) is more appropriate for just tiredness without the implication of being trapped.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 困
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困 (kùn) primarily means to trap or surround someone or something. It is often used to describe a feeling of being hard-pressed or in a difficult situation, as well as a state of tiredness or sleepiness. In various contexts, it can refer to physical entrapment as well as emotional or situational distress.
When to use 困
When using 困 (kùn), be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. It is more common in informal contexts, but can also appear in writing about feelings or situations of distress. Common collocations include '困扰' (kùn rǎo - to be troubled) and '困倦' (kùn juàn - fatigued).
困 or something close to it
困 (kùn) vs 难 (nán): use 困 for feelings of being trapped or hard-pressed, while 难 emphasizes difficulty or hardship.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 困 (kùn) with 累 (lèi), which also means tired but does not carry the connotation of being trapped. For example, saying '我很困' (wǒ hěn kùn) is correct for feeling sleepy, while saying '我很累' (wǒ hěn lèi) is more appropriate for just tiredness without the implication of being trapped.
Write 困
困
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Grammar patterns of 困
困 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The city is surrounded by mountains, as if trapped in the embrace of nature.
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Cultural Notes for 困
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, being '困' can also refer to feeling mentally or emotionally trapped. This can relate to situations like feeling overwhelmed by work or personal issues. It emphasizes the importance of seeking help and support during tough times.
Word Family of 困
Compounds14
捆kǔna bunch
睏kùnto surround; to besiege; surrounded, in distress; poor; tired, sleepy
梱kǔn
悃kǔnhonest, sincere; loyal, true
裍kǔn
阃kǔnthreshold; women's quarters
涃kùn
焑yān
硱kǔn
祵kǔn
稇kǔn
綑kǔn
閫kǔnthreshold; women's quarters
齫yǔn
Words containing this character20
困难kùnnandifficult困難
困kùnto trap
困扰kùnrǎoto perplex困擾
贫困pínkùnpoverty貧困
困惑kùnhuòbewildered
困境kùnjìngplight
穷困qióngkùndestitute窮困
围困wéikùnto besiege圍困
困苦kùnkǔdeprivation
犯困fànkùn(coll.) to get sleepy犯睏
困窘kùnjiǒngembarrassment
困倦kùnjuàntired
困顿kùndùnfatigued困頓
扶贫济困fúpínjìkùnto help the poor扶貧濟困
困厄kùn’èin deep water
困觉kùnjiào(dialect) to sleep睏覺
春困chūnkùnspring fatigue
扶危济困fúwēijìkùnto help those in distress (idiom)扶危濟困
困守kùnshǒuto stand a siege
发困fākùnto get sleepy發睏
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 困
What does 捆 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 困
Yes, 困 is often used in phrases like '困境' (kùnjìng), which means 'dilemma' or 'difficult situation'. This shows how the character can describe challenging circumstances beyond just physical trapping.
Synonyms for 困 (kùn) include 陷入 (xiànrù), meaning 'to fall into', and 被困 (bèikùn), meaning 'to be trapped'. These words can be used interchangeably in many contexts where entrapment or difficulty is implied.
困 (kùn) means to trap or surround. It can also describe a state of being hard-pressed or stranded, often implying a sense of desperation or being destitute. This character is used in various contexts to convey these meanings.
You can use 困 (kùn) in sentences like '我被困在这里' (I'm trapped here) or '他感到困惑' (He feels confused). It can describe physical entrapment as well as emotional states, making it versatile in conversation.
Common phrases include '困住' (kùn zhù - to trap) and '困惑' (kùn huò - perplexed).
Focus on context: 困 refers specifically to being trapped or tired, while words like 难 (nán) refer more to difficulty.
It is generally more informal but can be used in formal contexts when describing emotional or situational distress.
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