Meaning
克服 means to overcome or conquer difficulties, obstacles, or negative conditions. It emphasizes the active effort required to deal with and get past challenges, whether physical, psychological, or situational. The word carries a sense of determination and successful resolution.
Usage
克服 is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts, particularly in written Chinese, motivational speeches, and discussions about personal growth or problem-solving. It typically takes abstract nouns as objects, such as difficulties, fears, or bad habits. Native speakers frequently pair it with words like 困难 (difficulties), 障碍 (obstacles), or 弱点 (weaknesses).
Examples
- 01我们必须克服这些困难才能成功。.We must overcome these difficulties in order to succeed.
- 02她通过努力克服了对公开演讲的恐惧。.Through hard work, she overcame her fear of public speaking.
Characters
Common collocations
- 克服困难to overcome difficulties
- 克服障碍to overcome obstacles
- 克服恐惧to overcome fear
- 克服缺点to overcome shortcomings
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to conquering or subduing. 克 originally meant 'to defeat' or 'to restrain,' while 服 means 'to submit' or 'to tame.' Together they form a compound emphasizing the complete conquest of difficulties.