Definitions

nán (adjective) difficult; hard
nàn (noun) disaster; calamity

Etymology

Simplified from . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "type of bird", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.

About

The traditional character "難" originally depicted a type of bird, with its right component "隹" meaning "short-tailed bird" and the left component "堇" serving primarily a phonetic function. This avian meaning became obsolete, and the character’s use shifted to represent the concept of hardship and difficulty, a semantic change that occurred through the process of phonetic loan. The modern simplified form "难" replaces the complex "堇" component with the simpler "又", which acts as a symbolic or phonetic substitute, while retaining the "隹" component. Over time, the character has also acquired additional meanings, including its use as a suffix to form adjectives expressing undesirability and, less commonly, its function as a noun for calamity or disaster.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个问题很

Zhè gè wèntí hěn nán.

This problem is very difficult.

学习中文很

Xuéxí Zhōngwén hěn nán.

Learning Chinese is very difficult.

生活中有很多困

Shēnghuó zhōng yǒu hěn duō kùnnan.

There are many difficulties in life.

忘的经历让我成长。

Nánwàng de jīnglì ràng wǒ chéngzhǎng.

The unforgettable experience helped me grow.

以理解他的想法。

Nányǐ lǐjiě tā de xiǎngfǎ.

It is hard to understand his thoughts.

闻的气味弥漫在空气中。

Nánwén de qìwèi mímàn zài kōngqì zhōng.

An unpleasant smell permeated the air.

在短时间内完成任务很

Zài duǎn shíjiān nèi wánchéng rènwù hěn nán.

It is difficult to complete the task in a short time.

尽管面临诸多困,我们仍要坚持。

Jǐnguǎn miànlín zhūduō kùnnan, wǒmen réng yào jiānchí.

Despite facing many difficulties, we must persevere.