坎坷 describes a person's life journey characterized by ups, downs, and significant obstacles.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Describes a bumpy or uneven road surface.
- Metaphorically refers to a life full of hardships.
- Commonly used to describe a difficult personal journey.
1) 概述：坎坷，原意指地势高低不平，引申为人生道路或事业发展中遇到的困难、挫折和不顺利。它是一个带有情感色彩的词汇，常用于回顾过去或描述某人艰苦的奋斗历程。
2) 用法模式：该词主要作形容词使用，常与“人生”、“道路”、“经历”等名词搭配。它既可以作定语（如：坎坷的人生），也可以作谓语（如：他的经历很坎坷）。在书面语和文学创作中出现频率较高。
3) 常见语境：多用于传记、小说、演讲或感性的自我陈述中。例如描述一位成功人士早年的艰辛，或感叹命运的多舛。它强调的是过程的艰难，而非单纯的失败。
4) 近义词辨析：与“崎岖”相比，“崎岖”更多指物理上的地形险峻；与“艰难”相比，“坎坷”更侧重于人生轨迹的波折起伏，而“艰难”侧重于物质或体力上的匮乏与困难。
Examples
他的一生十分坎坷，经历了许多磨难。
everydayHis life has been very bumpy, having experienced many hardships.
创业之路总是充满坎坷。
formalThe path to entrepreneurship is always full of obstacles.
这段山路非常坎坷，开车要小心。
informalThis mountain road is very bumpy; drive carefully.
通过对主角坎坷命运的刻画，作者展现了人性的光辉。
academicThrough the portrayal of the protagonist's turbulent fate, the author reveals the brilliance of human nature.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
历尽坎坷
to have gone through many hardships
坎坷不平
rough and uneven
命运坎坷
a rough fate
Often Confused With
Refers primarily to physical terrain being rugged or steep. It is less commonly used for life experiences compared to 坎坷.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word is formal and carries a literary weight. It is best used in descriptive or reflective writing. Avoid using it in casual, lighthearted conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use it to describe simple physical unevenness, which is correct but less common than the metaphorical use. Do not confuse it with '困难', which is a broader term for 'difficulty'.
Tips
Use with life journey
Pair it with nouns like '人生' or '道路' to create a deep, reflective tone.
Avoid physical description
While it can mean physically bumpy, it is much more common in a metaphorical sense.
Literary resonance
The word carries a sense of 'resilience through suffering' which is highly valued in Chinese culture.
Word Origin
The word originates from ancient descriptions of uneven terrain. Over time, it evolved to represent the metaphorical 'roughness' of human fate.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, enduring '坎坷' is often seen as a necessary process for character building. It reflects the philosophical view that hardship leads to wisdom.
Memory Tip
Think of the radicals: the 'earth' radical suggests the ground, and the characters look like steps up and down. It represents the ups and downs of a person's life journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions不一定。虽然它常用于比喻人生，但也可以用来形容具体的路面不平，或者事业、工作进展的阻碍。
曲折侧重于过程的复杂和弯路多，而坎坷侧重于过程中的挫折和痛苦感。
它稍微正式一点，在日常闲聊中较少用，但在表达感慨或讲述经历时非常自然。
反义词通常是平坦、顺利或平顺。
Test Yourself
尽管他的人生充满___，但他从未放弃梦想。
此处形容人生经历的挫折，坎坷最符合语境。
Score: /1
Summary
坎坷 describes a person's life journey characterized by ups, downs, and significant obstacles.
- Describes a bumpy or uneven road surface.
- Metaphorically refers to a life full of hardships.
- Commonly used to describe a difficult personal journey.
Use with life journey
Pair it with nouns like '人生' or '道路' to create a deep, reflective tone.
Avoid physical description
While it can mean physically bumpy, it is much more common in a metaphorical sense.
Literary resonance
The word carries a sense of 'resilience through suffering' which is highly valued in Chinese culture.
Examples
4 of 4他的一生十分坎坷，经历了许多磨难。
His life has been very bumpy, having experienced many hardships.
创业之路总是充满坎坷。
The path to entrepreneurship is always full of obstacles.
这段山路非常坎坷，开车要小心。
This mountain road is very bumpy; drive carefully.
通过对主角坎坷命运的刻画，作者展现了人性的光辉。
Through the portrayal of the protagonist's turbulent fate, the author reveals the brilliance of human nature.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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