苦恼

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"苦恼" (kǔnǎo) describes a state of mental distress or anguish, often caused by difficulties, worries, or dilemmas. It conveys both emotional suffering and confusion about how to resolve a problem.

Common Contexts

It is frequently used to express personal troubles such as academic pressure, life decisions, or emotional conflicts. The word often appears in contexts where someone is deeply troubled or anxious.

Collocations and Patterns

  • "感到苦恼" (feel distressed): used to express experiencing mental anguish.
  • "陷入苦恼" (fall into distress): describes entering a state of worry or confusion.
  • "苦恼表情" (distressed expression): describes visible signs of mental suffering.

Nuances

"苦恼" emphasizes the emotional pain and mental struggle rather than physical pain. It is more intense than simply "烦恼" (annoyed or troubled) and often implies a deeper or more serious problem.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "苦恼" with "苦难" (hardship or suffering), which refers more to external difficulties rather than internal emotional distress.

Example Sentences

She feels very distressed because of her poor exam results.

Facing the choice, he fell into distress and didn't know what to do.

A distressed expression was written on his face.