Definitions
(adjective)
distressed; difficult; adverse
(noun)
hardship; adversity
Etymology
Pictograph of a yoke or harness attached to a work animal, such as a horse or ox.
About
The character "厄" originates from an early pictorial concept of a person constrained within a confined area, such as beneath a cliff, which is reflected in its modern structure combining the radical "厂" with the component "巳". Originally used to describe a narrow physical passage or a strategic point of terrain, its semantic range expanded over centuries to metaphorically represent hardship and adversity, moving from a specific geographical feature to a general term for misfortune and distress in human experience. This evolution in meaning demonstrates how the character adapted to convey more abstract notions of difficulty while retaining its core association with constraint.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他最近厄运连连。
厄瓜多尔是一个国家。
我们要勇敢面对厄境。
这场事故导致厄运降临。
在厄运中他学会了坚强。
厄尔尼诺现象改变天气模式。
尽管遭遇厄运，他仍未放弃希望。
科学家正在研究厄尔尼诺对全球气候的长期影响。