About
The character "困" structurally combines the radical 囗, symbolizing an enclosure or boundary, with the component 木 meaning tree, creating a visual metaphor of a tree confined within limits which originally conveyed ideas of restriction and adversity. In its early semantic applications, it primarily denoted being trapped, besieged, or experiencing material hardship, reflecting a state of unavoidable difficulty. Over centuries, its meaning expanded metaphorically to include the sensation of weariness and sleepiness, likely stemming from the conceptual link between being mentally or physically drained by oppressive circumstances and the need for rest. This evolution from denoting external entrapment to describing internal fatigue demonstrates how the character's core notion of constraint adapted to encompass both situational and physiological states, all while maintaining its original graphical form without alteration.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我现在很困。
他因困难而放弃。
这个问题困扰着我。
贫困地区需要帮助。
他被困在电梯里。
克服困难需要勇气。
长期困扰他的问题解决了。
在贫困中成长的孩子更懂得珍惜。