两难

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两难 [2025/08/10 10:50] – created xiaoer两难 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== liǎng nán: 两难 - Dilemma, Predicament ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** liǎng nán, 两难, liang nan meaning, Chinese for dilemma, predicament in Chinese, stuck between a rock and a hard place in Chinese, two difficult choices, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 5 +
-  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **两难 (liǎng nán)**, the essential Chinese word for a **dilemma** or **predicament**. This entry explores how **两难** describes the feeling of being "stuck between a rock and a hard place," with two equally difficult or undesirable options. Learn its cultural significance, see practical examples, and understand how it differs from simply having a "difficult problem," making it a crucial term for anyone wanting to express complex situations in Chinese. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** liǎng nán +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun / Adjective +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** A situation involving a choice between two equally difficult or unfavorable alternatives; a dilemma. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **两难 (liǎng nán)** perfectly captures the stressful feeling of being trapped. Imagine you are facing two doors, but behind each door is something you don't want. You *must* choose one, but neither choice is good. That state of being forced to pick the "lesser of two evils" is the core of **两难**. It's not just any problem; it's a problem defined by two conflicting paths. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **两 (liǎng):** This character means "two" or "a pair of." It's the same "liǎng" used when counting two of something (e.g., 两个人 - liǎng ge rén - two people). +
-  * **难 (nán):** This character means "difficult," "hard," or "problematic." It signifies a challenge or obstacle. +
-The characters combine literally and powerfully: **两 (two) + 难 (difficulties) = Two difficulties.** This creates the meaning of a dilemma where you are faced with two hard choices. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-While "dilemma" is a universal concept, the context of a **两难** situation in Chinese culture is often deeply tied to social and familial obligations. The "two difficulties" are frequently not just about personal gain or loss, but about balancing conflicting duties. +
-A classic **两难** scenario might involve the conflict between: +
-  * **孝 (xiào) - Filial Piety:** The duty to care for one's parents. +
-  * **个人发展 (gèrén fāzhǎn) - Personal Development:** The desire for a career or life in a different city. +
-For example, choosing between staying in your hometown to care for aging parents versus accepting a dream job in a major city is a profound **两难** for many young Chinese people. +
-**Comparison to Western Culture:** In the West, a dilemma is often framed as a personal, individualistic struggle (e.g., "What is best for *me*?"). In China, while personal feelings are important, the weight of how a decision impacts one's family, reputation (面子 - miànzi), and social harmony (和谐 - héxié) can make the **两难** feel much heavier and more complex. The "correct" choice is often the one that causes the least disruption to the collective group, even at great personal cost. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-**两难 (liǎng nán)** is a common and versatile term used in various contexts, from casual conversations to formal business meetings. +
-  *   **As a Noun ("a dilemma"):** +
-    *   `我陷入了**两难**。` (Wǒ xiànrùle **liǎng nán**.) - I've fallen into a dilemma. +
-    *   `这是一个**两难**的境地。` (Zhè shì yí ge **liǎng nán** de jìngdì.) - This is a dilemma situation. +
-  *   **As an Adjective ("to be in a dilemma"):** +
-    *   `我现在很**两难**。` (Wǒ xiànzài hěn **liǎng nán**.) - I'm in a real dilemma right now. (Literally: I am very 'dilemma-ed'.) +
-    *   `这个决定让我感到很**两难**。` (Zhège juédìng ràng wǒ gǎndào hěn **liǎng nán**.) - This decision makes me feel very conflicted. +
-The connotation is always one of stress, difficulty, and pressure. It's not a positive word, but it effectively communicates a complex and relatable human experience. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-  * 到底是在大城市打拼，还是回老家陪父母，我真的陷入了**两难**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Dàodǐ shì zài dà chéngshì dǎpīn, háishì huí lǎojiā péi fùmǔ, wǒ zhēn de xiànrùle **liǎng nán**. +
-  * English: Should I struggle to make it in the big city, or go back to my hometown to be with my parents? I'm really caught in a dilemma. +
-  * Analysis: This is a classic and deeply relatable **两难** for many people, perfectly illustrating the conflict between personal ambition and family duty. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-  * 如果我告诉他真相，他会难过；如果我不说，我又觉得在骗他。我太**两难**了。 +
-  * Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ gàosù tā zhēnxiàng, tā huì nánguò; rúguǒ wǒ bù shuō, wǒ yòu juédé zài piàn tā. Wǒ tài **liǎng nán** le. +
-  * English: If I tell him the truth, he'll be sad; if I don't say anything, I feel like I'm deceiving him. I'm in such a dilemma. +
-  * Analysis: This shows an ethical **两难**, where both choices lead to a negative emotional outcome. The phrase `太...了` (tài...le) emphasizes the speaker's strong feeling of being conflicted. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-  * 公司面临着**两难**的选择：要么裁员，要么申请破产。 +
-  * Pinyin: Gōngsī miànlínzhe **liǎng nán** de xuǎnzé: yàome cáiyuán, yàome shēnqǐng pòchǎn. +
-  * English: The company is facing a dilemma: either lay off employees or file for bankruptcy. +
-  * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of **两难** in a formal, high-stakes business context. `要么...要么...` (yàome...yàome...) is a common structure for presenting the two choices in a dilemma. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-  * A: 你决定好买哪个手机了吗？ (Nǐ juédìng hǎo mǎi nǎge shǒujī le ma?) - Have you decided which phone to buy? +
-  * B: 还没有，我很**两难**。一个相机好，一个电池大。 (Hái méiyǒu, wǒ hěn **liǎng nán**. Yíge xiàngjī hǎo, yíge diànchí dà.) - Not yet, I'm torn. One has a better camera, the other has a bigger battery. +
-  * Analysis: This is a lighthearted, everyday example. It shows that **两难** can be used for low-stakes decisions, not just life-altering ones. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-  * 让他继续犯错和直接批评他，这两种做法都让我感到**两难**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Ràng tā jìxù fàncuò hé zhíjiē pīpíng tā, zhè liǎng zhǒng zuòfǎ dōu ràng wǒ gǎndào **liǎng nán**. +
-  * English: Letting him continue to make mistakes and criticizing him directly—both of these approaches make me feel stuck in a dilemma. +
-  * Analysis: Here, **两难** is used as an adjective describing the feeling produced by two difficult options. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-  * 这位法官面临着一个道德上的**两难**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Zhè wèi fǎguān miànlínzhe yí ge dàodé shàng de **liǎng nán**. +
-  * English: This judge is facing a moral dilemma. +
-  * Analysis: Shows how **两难** can be modified with other words, like `道德上的` (dàodé shàng de - moral), to specify the nature of the dilemma. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-  * 既要发展经济，又要保护环境，是许多国家政府的**两难**问题。 +
-  * Pinyin: Jì yào fāzhǎn jīngjì, yòu yào bǎohù huánjìng, shì xǔduō guójiā zhèngfǔ de **liǎng nán** wèntí. +
-  * English: Needing to both develop the economy and protect the environment is a dilemma for many national governments. +
-  * Analysis: This example elevates the concept to a societal or political level. `既要...又要...` (jì yào... yòu yào...) is another structure used to frame two conflicting goals. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-  * 我想减肥，但又不想放弃美食，真是**两难**啊！ +
-  * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng jiǎnféi, dàn yòu bùxiǎng fàngqì měishí, zhēnshi **liǎng nán** a! +
-  * English: I want to lose weight, but I don't want to give up delicious food. What a dilemma! +
-  * Analysis: A humorous and very common personal conflict. The particle `啊` (a) at the end adds a sighing, emotional tone. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-  * 对于这个项目，我们正处在进退**两难**的境地。 +
-  * Pinyin: Duìyú zhège xiàngmù, wǒmen zhèng chǔ zài jìntuì **liǎng nán** de jìngdì. +
-  * English: Regarding this project, we are in a situation where it's difficult to move forward or backward. +
-  * Analysis: This sentence uses a related idiom, `进退两难` (jìntuì liǎng nán), which literally means "advance-retreat two-difficult." It's a more formal and vivid way to describe being completely stuck. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-  * 他的沉默让我陷入了**两难**：我不知道他是同意还是反对。 +
-  * Pinyin: Tā de chénmò ràng wǒ xiànrùle **liǎng nán**: wǒ bù zhīdào tā shì tóngyì háishì fǎnduì. +
-  * English: His silence put me in a dilemma: I don't know if he agrees or disagrees. +
-  * Analysis: This shows a dilemma caused by a lack of information, forcing a difficult choice about how to proceed. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **Mistake: Using 两难 for Any Difficult Problem.** +
-A common mistake for learners is to use **两难** for any difficult situation. Remember, the key is the "两 (liǎng)" - there must be **two** distinct, conflicting options. +
-  * **Incorrect:** `这个数学题太**两难**了。` (This math problem is too dilemma.) +
-  * **Why it's wrong:** A math problem is just one single difficulty. It doesn't present two choices. +
-  * **Correct:** `这个数学题太**难**了。` (Zhège shùxué tí tài **nán** le.) - This math problem is too **difficult**. +
-  * **Nuance: 两难 vs. 纠结 (jiūjié)** +
-  * **两难 (liǎng nán)** describes the objective situation of having two bad choices. It's the "what." +
-  * **[[纠结]] (jiūjié)** describes the internal, tangled, and conflicted *feeling* you have when facing the **两难**. It's the "how you feel." +
-  * They are often used together: `这个情况让我很**两难**，所以我心里特别**纠结**。` (This situation puts me in a dilemma, so I feel very conflicted inside.) +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[进退两难]] (jìn tuì liǎng nán) - An idiom meaning "stuck between advancing and retreating." A more formal and vivid synonym for being in a dilemma. +
-  * [[左右为难]] (zuǒ yòu wéi nán) - An idiom meaning "difficult to choose left or right." Another very common and interchangeable synonym for **两难**. +
-  * [[困境]] (kùnjìng) - A predicament, a difficult situation, a plight. This is a broader term that doesn't necessarily involve only two choices. A **两难** is a specific type of **困境**. +
-  * [[矛盾]] (máodùn) - Contradiction, contradictory. Often used to describe the conflicting ideas or feelings that create a dilemma. (Literally "spear-shield"). +
-  * [[纠结]] (jiūjié) - To be tangled up, conflicted. This popular word describes the personal, emotional state of indecisiveness when facing a **两难**. +
-  * [[选择]] (xuǎnzé) - Choice; to choose. The fundamental action required to resolve a **两难**. +
-  * [[难题]] (nántí) - A difficult problem or question. A **两难** is a type of **难题** that involves making a hard choice.+