困 (kùn) - tired, weary, sleepy & to surround, besiege

困Tone 4

kùn ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 囗

俊梁

困 · kùn

tired, weary, sleepy;

to surround, besiege;

difficulty, hardship;

poor, impoverished

tired, weary, sleepyto surround, besiegedifficulty, hardship

Usage highlights

sleepydifficultybesiegedpovertysleepinessdilemma

Synonyms

  • 累— tired, weary
  • 乏— fatigued, exhausted
  • 倦— weary, tired
  • 围— surround, encircle

Antonyms

  • 醒— awake, alert
  • 富— wealthy, rich
  • 易— easy, simple
  • 解— release, free

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I feel very tired (我很困).
  • The troops surrounded the city (军队困住了城市).
  • They are in financial difficulty (他们经济困难).
  • The child is sleepy (孩子困了).

Collocations

  • sleepy(困倦)
  • difficulty(困难)
  • besieged(被困)
  • poverty-stricken(贫困)
  • sleepiness(困意)
  • dilemma(困境)

Idioms

  • Besieged on all sides(内外交困)
  • In dire straits(困兽犹斗)
  • Helpless and destitute(困穷潦倒)
  • Trapped in hardship(困厄之境)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a tree trapped within an enclosure, conveying the sense of being constrained or surrounded.
  • In Chinese philosophy, '困' represents a state of adversity that tests character and can lead to growth through perseverance.
  • The character appears in many idioms about overcoming difficulties and resilience in the face of hardship.

FAQ