Learn 困 in whole words that describe being at a loss or facing hardship.

The idea

困 has 7 strokes. Follow the linked diagram: the enclosure surrounds 木. 困る is read こまる; compounds include 困難（こんなん） and 貧困（ひんこん）.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample
困るこまるI am in trouble because I lost my key.
困難こんなんWe overcame many difficulties.
貧困ひんこんPoverty is a serious social problem.

Examples

  • 鍵かぎをなくして、困こまっています。I am in trouble because I lost my key.
  • 困こまったら、私わたしに言いってください。Please tell me if you are having trouble.
  • 答こたえに困こまりました。I was at a loss for an answer.
  • この問題もんだいを解とくのは困難こんなんです。It is difficult to solve this problem.
  • 私わたしたちはたくさんの困難こんなんを乗のり越こえました。We overcame many difficulties.
  • 貧困ひんこんは深刻しんこくな社会しゃかい問題もんだいです。Poverty is a serious social problem.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

困る describes being troubled or at a loss; 困難 describes difficulty, and 貧困 means poverty. Do not use these words interchangeably.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 困る in hiragana.

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    こまる

    困る is こまる: it describes being troubled, as when a key is lost.

  2. Write the reading of 困難 in hiragana.

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    こんなん

    困難 is こんなん: it means difficulty, as in overcoming difficulties.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 貧＿（ひんこん）［困／因］.

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    困

    困 completes 貧困（ひんこん）, meaning poverty.

Use it today

Write 困 following the diagram, then cover the readings and make a sentence with 困る.