難
difficult · impossible · trouble · accident · defect
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
廿 + mouth + 夫 + 隹
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of leather and bird. Leather bird being difficult.
Symbolism
Difficulty, difficult, problem. Represents difficulty.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
難攻不落
なんこうふらく
impregnable; impregnable
無理難題
むりなんだい
unreasonable demand; unreasonable demand
艱難辛苦
かんなんしんく
trial and tribulation; hardships; privations; trial and tribulation
七難八苦
しちなんはっく
the Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains; a series of disasters; the Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains
多事多難
たじたなん
various difficulties; various difficulties
難行苦行
なんぎょうくぎょう
penance; hardship; penance
前途多難
ぜんとたなん
having many difficulties in store; grim prospects; having many difficulties in store
非難轟々
ひなんごうごう
loud criticism; torrent of criticism; fierce denouncement (from many people); loud criticism
辛苦艱難
しんくかんなん
trials and tribulations; adversities; suffering hardships and troubles; trials and tribulations
進退両難
しんたいりょうなん
being driven to the wall; finding oneself between the devil and the deep blue sea; finding oneself between a rock and a hard place; being driven to the wall
Poetry
難波潟 みじかき葦の ふしの間も あはでこの世を 過ぐしてよとや
Poem #19 from Hyakunin Isshu
わびぬれば 今はた同じ 難波なる みをつくしても あはむとぞ思ふ
Poem #20 from Hyakunin Isshu
難波江の 葦のかりねの ひとよゆゑ みをつくしてや 恋ひわたるべき
Poem #88 from Hyakunin Isshu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 難 mean in Japanese?
難 means difficult, impossible, trouble, accident, defect.
How do you read 難?
On'yomi: ナン (NAN). Kun'yomi: かた.い、-がた.い、むずか.しい、むづか.しい、むつか.しい、-にく.い (katai, gatai, muzukashii, muzukashii, mutsukashii, nikui).
How many strokes does 難 have?
難 has 18 strokes. Its radical is 隹 (short-tailed bird).
Is 難 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 難 (difficult, impossible, trouble, accident, defect) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for trouble · kanji for defect