[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #States-and-Conditions # 困 kùn to be surrounded; difficult ## Components [[囗 (weí)]] [[木 mù]] [[木 (mù)]] ## Meaning In modern usage, the character 困 (kùn) primarily means "to be surrounded" or "to be trapped." It can also mean "to be in difficulties" or "to be in a predicament." Additionally, it can refer to feeling sleepy or drowsy. Finally, it can also be used as an adjective to mean "difficult" or "hard." ## History The character 困 (kùn) is a compound ideogram. It consists of the radical 囗 (weí), representing "enclosure," and the radical 木 (mù), representing "tree," indicating a tree surrounded by a wall and unable to grow freely. Its original meaning is "to surround" or "to enclose." Today, it has been simplified to 因 (yīn). ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ![[困 kùn - bron.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[困 kùn - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[困 kùn - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[困 kùn - reg.svg]]