难
Character learning workspace

nán / nàn · hard, difficult, arduous

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 3HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #544
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 难

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

难 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

nán

difficult (to...); problem; difficulty

难过nán guò · to feel sad
nàn

disaster; distress; to scold

灾难zāi nàn · disaster
Step-by-step explorer

See how 难 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

Loading stroke diagrams…

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

又Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 难 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 难

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

nándifficult (to...); problem; difficulty
nanWords pronounced nan
nàndisaster; distress; to scold
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 难 sits in each complete thought.

Rú guǒ yǒu yì tiān nǐ zǒu le, wǒ huì hěn nán guò de.如果有一天你走了,我会很难过的。

If one day you leave, I will be very sad.

Source: Tatoeba #633972 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhège duì tā lái shuō hěn kùn nán.这个对他来说很困难。

This is very hard for him.

Source: Tatoeba #689554 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bǎ wǒ wàng le, nán dào bú shì ma?他把我忘了,难道不是吗?

He had forgotten me, didn't he?

Source: Tatoeba #9964337 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā sǐ le wǒ zhēn nán shòu.他死了我真难受。

I am very sad that he has died.

Source: Tatoeba #2261862 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yǒu shí tā ràng wǒ nán yǐ lǐ jiě.有时他让我难以理解。

I don't understand him sometimes.

Source: Tatoeba #1409032 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ zài nán guò ma?你在难过吗?

Are you sad?

Source: Tatoeba #8775843 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 难 in context

  1. Say nán / nàn, then recall the core meaning: hard, difficult, arduous.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 难过 (nán guò), meaning “to feel sad”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 难 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.