The word 难堪 is formed by combining two characters whose core meanings create a vivid, almost physical portrait of an emotional state. "难" (nán) carries the sense of difficulty, hardship, or something arduous, while "堪" (kān) fundamentally means to bear, endure, or withstand. When fused, they do not simply add together but multiply into the concept of a situation so intensely awkward, embarrassing, or humiliating that it becomes difficult to bear, picturing a moment whose weight feels insupportable to the person experiencing it.