Chinese · Adjectives
难
nán
Difficult
Beginneradjective
Definition
Hard to do or understand.
Example
中文的声调有点难。
Chinese tones are a bit difficult.
Etymology
The character '难' (nán) combines the radical for 'difficult' and has ancient connotations of hardship and adversity. Historically, it has been used to describe tasks or situations that are challenging or not easily achievable.
How & Where It’s Used
'难' (nán) is used across various registers, both formal and informal, and is common in spoken and written Chinese. It can be used in everyday conversations or academic contexts to describe complexity or difficulty in tasks and circumstances.