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  5. 难

难 (nán): Hard — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

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HSK 3.0
Level 3
HSK 3.0:Recognition 3Writing 3
HSK 2.0Level 3
HSK 3.0Vocab 3Recognition 3Writing 3
1.

Animated Stroke Order 难

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 难 — animated stroke order

1,298 learners practiced this

2.

Readings & Meanings

难has 2 distinct senses for the same pronunciation

nán
  • hard; difficult
    adj.HSK 3
  • hard; difficult
    v./adj.
3.

Stroke Order Diagrams 难

难 stroke order diagram
4.

Character Breakdown

Left-Right
难
又yòu · again
隹zhuī
难=
5.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 难

难 handwriting practice worksheet preview
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 3 PDF pack
6.

How to Use 难

Judging and Speculating Tone

In words like 难道, 难怪, and 难免, 难 (nán) adds a tone of judgment or speculation.

难道 • nán dào • could it be...? • HSK 4
HSK 4
7.

HSK Vocabulary: 难

难听 • nán tīng • unpleasant to hear
HSK 3.0 · L3
nán难
tīng
8.

Example Sentences

xué学
xí习
xīn新
yǔ语
yán言
huì会
yù

Information

Pinyinnán
Meaninghard; difficult
Strokes10
Radical隹
Traditional難
StructureLeft-Right
Frequency#638
Zhuyinㄋㄢˊ
UnicodeU+96BE
CangjieYRHHI
HSK 3.0 · L3
又yòu · again
+隹zhuī
nán难
dào道

could it be...?

难怪 • nán guài • no wonder • HSK 5
HSK 5
nán难
guài怪

no wonder

难免 • nán miǎn • hard to avoid • HSK 5
HSK 5
nán难
miǎn免

hard to avoid

难以 • nán yǐ • hard to (predict, imagine etc) • HSK 3.0 · L5
HSK 3.0 · L5
nán难
yǐ以

hard to (predict, imagine etc)

Emotions and Difficult Situations

In words like 难过, 为难, and 难堪, 难 (nán) describes emotional or situational hardship.

难过 • nán guò • have a hard time • HSK 3
HSK 3
nán难
guò过

have a hard time

为难 • wéi nán • feel embarrassed/awkward • HSK 6
HSK 6
wéi为
nán难

feel embarrassed/awkward

难堪 • nán kān • intolerable; unbearable • HSK 6
HSK 6
nán难
kān堪

intolerable; unbearable

艰难 • jiān nán • difficult; hard; arduous • HSK 6
HSK 6
jiān艰
nán难

difficult; hard; arduous

听

unpleasant to hear

难看 • nán kàn • ugly
HSK 3.0 · L3
nán难
kàn看

ugly

难题 • nán tí • difficult problem
HSK 3.0 · L3
nán难
tí题

difficult problem

困难 • kùn nan • difficulty
HSK 4
kùn困
nan难

difficulty

难受 • nán shòu • feel unwell; difficult to bear
HSK 4
nán难
shòu受

feel unwell; difficult to bear

难忘 • nán wàng • unforgettable
HSK 3.0 · L4
nán难
wàng忘

unforgettable

遇
dào到
hěn很
duō多
kùn困
nan难
。

Learning a new language will encounter many difficulties.

zhè这
ge个
shù数
xué学
nán难
tí题
hěn很
nán难
jiě解
jué决
。

This math problem is very difficult to solve.

zhè这
ge个
shù数
xué学
tí题
hěn很
nán难
。

This math problem is very difficult.

zhè这
cì次
lǚ旅
xíng行
shì是
yī一
cì次
nán难
wàng忘
de的
jīng经
lì历
。

This trip is an unforgettable experience.

zhè这
qì气
wèi味
hěn很
nán难
wén闻
。

This smell is very unpleasant.

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK Level 3

Characters from the same exam level.

  • 腿tuǐleg
  • 碗wǎna bowl of
  • 万wànten thousand
  • 位wèiposition
  • 为wèifor (someone; something); to do; to be
  • 西xīwest
View all HSK 3 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "nan".

  • 喃nánkeep talking, chattering; mumble
  • 南nánsouth
  • 男nánmale
View all "nan" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "隹".

  • 雍yōngharmony, union; harmonious
  • 隹zhuīshort-tailed bird
  • 雏chúchick, fledging; infant, toddler
  • 雌cífemale (of a species)
  • 隽juànmeaningful; profound; superior; talented
  • 雕diāoto carve, engrave, or a bird of prey (eagle, vulture)
View all "隹" radical characters →