Meaning
艰 means difficult or arduous, typically describing challenging circumstances, hard conditions, or tough situations. It often conveys a sense of hardship that requires perseverance and effort to overcome. This character is commonly used in written Chinese and formal contexts.
Usage
艰 is rarely used alone in modern Chinese; it typically appears in compound words like 艰难 (difficult), 艰苦 (arduous), or 艰辛 (hardship). It carries a more formal or literary tone compared to everyday words like 难. Common in news, literature, and formal speech when describing challenging conditions or difficult periods.
Examples
- 01创业初期非常艰难。.The initial period of starting a business is very difficult.
- 02他们在艰苦的环境中坚持工作。.They persevere in working under arduous conditions.
Common collocations
- 艰难困苦hardships and difficulties
- 艰苦奋斗to struggle arduously
- 艰巨任务arduous task
- 艰辛历程difficult journey/process
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 艱 is composed of 艮 (tough, firm) and 堇 (clay), suggesting the image of hard, unyielding earth or difficult terrain. The simplified form 艰 maintains the left component 又 (hand) suggesting manual difficulty.