困 kùn — besiege, difficult · English

困

kùn

besiege, difficult

At a glance · 困

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文、金文从囗（围）从木，会意树木被围、不得伸展。隶楷作「困」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「困」本指被围、穷乏，引申为艰难、疲乏。

Structure

会意字，从囗从木，木被围困不得出。

At a glance

Pinyinkùn

Radical囗

Strokes7

UnicodeU+56F0

Character type会意

Theme状态

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English besiege, difficult To surround; difficult, exhausted, poor.

Français assiéger, difficile Encercler; difficile, épuisé, pauvre.

Español asediar, difícil Situar; difícil, agotado, pobre.

العربية يحاصر، صعب يُحاصر أو صعب أو فقير.

Русский окружать, трудный Окружать; трудный, изнурённый, бедный.

Common words

困难kùn nándifficult
困kùntrapped

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