Correct
艰难 vs 困难
/ jiānnán vs kùnnan /
Strokes
Definition
艰难 as an Adjective, and 困难 as a Noun or Adjective, which means [difficult; difficulty; arduous], indicate "complication, resistance, predicament, poverty-stricken, etc".
Example
The scale and degree of difficulties denoted by 艰难 surpass those of 困难. Sometimes 艰难 refers in particular to the great hardships in starting an undertaking.
1) The noun 困难 has the same meaning as the adjective and can function as the subject or object of a sentence.
2) We usually say 有困难 (have difficulty), 遇到了困难 (encountered difficulties), 克服困难 (overcome difficulties), 困难不小 (a big difficulty), etc. While 艰难 is usually found in phrases like 艰难困苦 (difficulties and hardships), 艰难险阻(hardships and dangers), etc.
3) In the sentences, the two words are not interchangeable.
2) We usually say 有困难 (have difficulty), 遇到了困难 (encountered difficulties), 克服困难 (overcome difficulties), 困难不小 (a big difficulty), etc. While 艰难 is usually found in phrases like 艰难困苦 (difficulties and hardships), 艰难险阻(hardships and dangers), etc.
3) In the sentences, the two words are not interchangeable.
1
Kēxué
科学
shìyè
事业
shì
是
yī
一
xiàng
项
shí
十
fēn
分
jiānnán
艰难
de
的
shìyè
事业
,
bìxū
必须
jiǎotāshidì
脚踏实地
qù
去
gàn
干
,
méiyǒu
没有
jiéjìng
捷径
kě
可
zǒu
走
。
The scientific work is full of hardships,and there is no shortcut in it,so we must work steadily and patiently.
2
Tā
他
zhège
这个
rén
人
hěn
很
yǒu
有
rènxìng
韧性
,
rènhé
任何
jiānnánkùnkǔ
艰难困苦
dōu
都
dǎng
挡
bùzhù
不住
tā
他
。
He is tenacious,and can overcome every hardship and difficulty.
3
Tā
他
zài
在
zuò
做
zuoyè
作业
de
的
guòchéng
过程
zhōng
中
yùdào
遇到
le
了
yīxiē
一些
kùnnan
困难
,
dàn
但
dōu
都
yīyī
一一
kèfú
克服
le
了
。
He had some difficulties in his homework,and he overcome them one by one.
4
Tā
他
shì
是
gè
个
shànyú
善于
kèfú
克服
kùnnan
困难
de
的
rén
人
。
He can overcome difficulties with ease.
When talking about a hard life or a life suffering from financial problems, either word can be used, but 艰难 sounds more intensified than 困难.
5
Cóngqián
从前
tāmen
他们
jiā
家
de
的
rìzi
日子
hěn
很
jiānnán
艰难
(
kùnnan
困难
)
。
Their family had a hard time before.
6
Tā
他
jiù
就
shīyè
失业
le
了
,
méiyǒu
没有
shōurù
收入
,
shēnghuó
生活
de
得
hěn
很
jiānnán
艰难
(
kùnnan
困难
)
。
He was unemployed, had no income, and lived a difficult life.
When applied to more serious events, either word will do; but there is still a difference in degree, 艰难 is harder then 困难.
7
Tā
他
zhège
这个
ànzi
案子
,
jìnxíng
进行
de
得
shí
十
fēn
分
jiānnán
艰难
(
kùnnan
困难
)
。
The case he accepted is difficult to carry out.
8
Zhè
这
shì
是
yī
一
cì
次
jiānnán
艰难
(
kùnnan
困难
)
ér
而
qūzhé
曲折
de
的
lǚxíng
旅行
。
It was a difficult and roundabout trip.