困惑 (kùnhuò)

困惑 describes the state of being confused, perplexed, or baffled -- unable to understand or make sense of something, often with a sense of mental struggle.

Meanings

[adjective] confused; perplexed; puzzled; baffled
[verb] to confuse; to perplex; to baffle

Example Sentences

他对这个问题感到十分困惑。 Tā duì zhège wèntí gǎndào shífēn kùnhuò. He felt very confused about this question.

她的突然离开让所有人都感到困惑不解。 Tā de tūrán líkāi ràng suǒyǒu rén dōu gǎndào kùnhuò bùjiě. Her sudden departure left everyone perplexed and unable to understand.

这个复杂的问题困惑了许多研究者。 Zhège fùzá de wèntí kùnhuò le xǔduō yánjiū zhě. This complex problem has perplexed many researchers.

面对人生的重大选择，他充满了困惑。 Miàn duì rénshēng de zhòngdà xuǎnzé, tā chōngmǎn le kùnhuò. Faced with major life choices, he was filled with confusion.

老师耐心地解答了学生的困惑。 Lǎoshī nàixīn de jiědá le xuésheng de kùnhuò. The teacher patiently answered the students' questions and resolved their confusion.

我对他的动机感到困惑，无法理解他为什么那样做。 Wǒ duì tā de dòngjī gǎndào kùnhuò, wúfǎ lǐjiě tā wèishénme nàyàng zuò. I was perplexed by his motives and could not understand why he acted that way.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
感到困惑	to feel confused
充满困惑	to be filled with confusion
困惑不解	confused and unable to understand
解答困惑	to resolve confusion
让人困惑	to confuse people

Usage Notes

困惑 describes intellectual or emotional confusion, often implying that the person is struggling to make sense of something. It is more formal and stronger than 迷糊 (muddled) or 搞不清 (can't figure out). As a verb, it takes a person as its object: 这件事困惑了我 (this matter confused me).

The phrase 困惑不解 (confused and unable to understand) is a common set expression that intensifies the meaning. 困惑 can also be used as a noun meaning "a confusion" or "a puzzle," as in 解答困惑 (resolve a confusion/puzzlement).

Memory Hook

困 means "trapped/stuck" and 惑 means "to be deceived/confused." 困惑 is being stuck inside confusion -- your mind is trapped and can't find its way out.