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March 24, 2026
艰难(艱難)jiānnán(jian1nan2)
艰难 (jiān nán) means difficult, hard, or challenging. It is often used to describe situations or tasks that require significant effort or face numerous obstacles. This word carries a connotation of struggle and perseverance in overcoming difficulties.
Strokes18Frequency#2157DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
艰难 is often used in Chinese literature and speeches to highlight the resilience of the Chinese people through historical struggles, such as during wars or natural disasters. This word reflects the cultural value placed on perseverance and hard work.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant '艰' (jian) mountain that is hard to climb, representing the difficulty of the task ahead. The character '难' (nan) looks like a person struggling at the top of the mountain, emphasizing the challenge. Together, they remind you that achieving your goal will require effort and resilience.
Meanings of 艰难
jiānnán(jian1nan2)
1difficult
2hard
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About 艰难
艰难Simplified
艱難Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2157Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 艰难
Podcast: 艰难
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AI Study Notes for 艰难
Quick Contrast
困难 (kùnnán) - use 艰难 when emphasizing the struggle involved, while 困难 focuses more on the state of being difficult.
Usage Notes
艰难 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in written language. A common mistake is to confuse it with '困难' (kùn nán), which is more general for 'difficult.' Be mindful of tone; '艰难' is pronounced with a high first tone and a rising second tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 艰难 connects with other vocabulary related to challenges and perseverance, such as '克服' (kè fú, to overcome) and '努力' (nǔ lì, to strive). Focus on using it in sentences describing personal or societal challenges to strengthen your context understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 艰难 (jiān nán) with 困难 (kùn nán), using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '这个问题很艰难' (This problem is very difficult) is correct, but using '艰难' to describe a simple task is inappropriate; instead, use '困难' in such cases.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 艰难
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艰难 (jiān nán) means difficult, hard, or challenging. It is often used to describe situations or tasks that require significant effort or face numerous obstacles. This word carries a connotation of struggle and perseverance in overcoming difficulties.
When to use 艰难
艰难 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in written language. A common mistake is to confuse it with '困难' (kùn nán), which is more general for 'difficult.' Be mindful of tone; '艰难' is pronounced with a high first tone and a rising second tone.
艰难 or something close to it
困难 (kùnnán) - use 艰难 when emphasizing the struggle involved, while 困难 focuses more on the state of being difficult.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 艰难 (jiān nán) with 困难 (kùn nán), using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '这个问题很艰难' (This problem is very difficult) is correct, but using '艰难' to describe a simple task is inappropriate; instead, use '困难' in such cases.
Write 艰难
艰
难
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Grammar Patterns of 艰难
艰难 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 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.
