厄 (è) - Adversity, hardship, distress & predicament, difficulty

厄Tone 4

è ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 厂

丁恩

厄 · è

Adversity, hardship, distress;

predicament, difficulty;

narrow pass, strategic point.

Adversity, hardship, distresspredicament, difficultynarrow pass, strategic point.

Usage highlights

MisfortuneDisaster, calamityAdversity, hardshipStrategic passTo be in distressTo overcome adversity

Synonyms

  • 难— difficulty, disaster
  • 困— difficulty, hardship
  • 灾— disaster, calamity

Antonyms

  • 福— good fortune, blessing
  • 吉— auspicious, lucky
  • 顺— smooth, favorable

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He faced great adversity (厄运).
  • The survivors of the disaster (厄难 survivors).
  • This is a difficult situation (厄境).
  • They were trapped in a predicament (困境).

Collocations

  • Misfortune(厄运)
  • Disaster, calamity(厄难)
  • Adversity, hardship(厄境)
  • Strategic pass(厄塞)
  • To be in distress(困厄)
  • To overcome adversity(脱厄)

Idioms

  • To be in dire straits(在陈之厄)
  • To escape from calamity(逃厄)
  • To be trapped in adversity(厄于困境)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a narrow mountain pass or strategic point, later extended to mean hardship or adversity.
  • In traditional Chinese thought, adversity (厄) is often seen as a test of character that can lead to personal growth.
  • The character appears in Buddhist texts referring to the sufferings of samsara.

FAQ