kwan3 naan4困難困难
Jyutpingkwan3 naan4
Yalekwan nàahn
Definition
Difficulty, obstacle, or trouble that makes doing something hard.
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How it's used
While 困難 is used in formal writing, Cantonese speakers often prefer simpler, more direct alternatives like 麻煩 or 難處 in casual conversation. Using 困難 in everyday speech can sound slightly more serious or objective, as if you are describing a specific hurdle rather than just a general annoyance. It is frequently paired with verbs like 遇到 or 解決 to frame a problem as something that requires effort to overcome.
Examples
Do you have any difficulty doing this?
He did not give up even after encountering many difficulties.
Related words
Common phrases
to encounter difficulties
to solve difficulties
to overcome difficulties
Common mistake
Learners often use 困難 as an adjective to mean 'hard' or 'difficult', such as saying 呢件事好困難. While grammatically acceptable, it sounds quite formal or bookish. In spoken Cantonese, it is much more natural to use 難 or 難搞.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
