困境 (kùnjìng) — predicament; difficult situation

困境 (kùnjìng)

困境 refers to a difficult situation, predicament, or plight -- a set of circumstances that are hard to escape or resolve, often involving multiple constraints.

Meanings

1. [noun] predicament; difficult situation; dilemma; plight; impasse

Example Sentences

公司陷入了财务困境，面临破产的威胁。 Gōngsī xiànrù le cáiwù kùnjìng, miànlín pòchǎn de wēixié. The company fell into financial difficulty and faced the threat of bankruptcy.

他帮助朋友走出了人生的困境。 Tā bāngzhù péngyou zǒuchū le rénshēng de kùnjìng. He helped his friend out of a difficult situation in life.

如何摆脱困境是他们面临的最大挑战。 Rúhé bǎituō kùnjìng shì tāmen miànlín de zuìdà tiǎozhàn. How to break free from the predicament is the biggest challenge they face.

政府正在努力帮助处于困境中的家庭。 Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài nǔlì bāngzhù chǔyú kùnjìng zhōng de jiātíng. The government is working to help families in difficult situations.

这个国家正处于外交困境中，急需国际支持。 Zhège guójiā zhèngchǔyú wàijiāo kùnjìng zhōng, jí xū guójì zhīchí. This country is in a diplomatic predicament and urgently needs international support.

面对困境，她没有选择放弃，而是积极寻找解决办法。 Miàn duì kùnjìng, tā méiyǒu xuǎnzé fàngqì, ér shì jījí xúnzhǎo jiějué bànfǎ. Faced with the predicament, she did not choose to give up but actively sought solutions.

Collocations

Usage Notes

困境 combines 困 (stuck, difficult, trapped) and 境 (situation, condition, realm), vividly conveying the image of being trapped in an unfavorable situation. It is stronger and more specific than 困难 (difficulty) and implies that escape or resolution is not straightforward.

Common verbs used with 困境 include 陷入 (fall into), 摆脱/走出 (get out of), and 面临 (face). The phrase 深陷困境 (deeply mired in a predicament) emphasizes the severity of the situation.

Memory Hook

困 means "trapped" (a tree trapped inside a box) and 境 means "situation/place." 困境 is a situation where you are trapped -- a predicament you cannot easily escape.