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坎坷 (kǎn kě) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

坎坷 (kǎn kě) is a Chinese word: bumpy; rough; full of setbacks. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 坎坷

形 xíng adjective

bumpy; rough; full of setbacks

他的人生道路很坎坷。

tā de rén shēng dào lù hěn kǎn kě

His life path has been very bumpy.

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Word breakdown

坎 kǎn — pit; obstacle; difficulty

坷 kě — uneven ground; bumpy; rough

Structure & writing
1 坎 kǎn — one of the Eight Trigrams, symbol '☵', representing water

坎 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 土 tǔ — soil; earth (mixture of sand, clay, etc. on the ground)
土 is a component in 76 characters
HSK 1
再 zài twice; a second time 去 qù to go (away from the speaker, opposite of 来) 在 zài to exist; to live 坐 zuò to sit (resting buttocks on a chair or other surface) 块 kuài lump; chunk; clump
Show more HSK 1 characters (+1)
里 lǐ inner lining (of clothing, bedding, etc.); reverse side of a fabric
HSK 2
周 zhōu periphery; circle 地 dì the Earth, one of the eight planets in the solar system 场 chǎng a place or large area suited for certain needs 坏 huài evil; vicious; destructive 走 zǒu to walk; (of birds or animals) to move the feet forward alternately
HSK 3
城 chéng city wall 境 jìng border; boundary; frontier
HSK 4
压 yā to press down on an object (often from above) 圾 jī used in 垃圾: ① refuse, trash, waste matter; ② fig. harmful elements in society 址 zhǐ location of a building; foundation 垃 lā used in 垃圾 (lājī): ① garbage, refuse ② (attributive) worthless or harmful 基 jī foundation; base of a building
Show more HSK 4 characters (+9)
堂 táng main hall; large imposing room 堵 dǔ to block; to obstruct 塑 sù to model; to sculpt 填 tián to fill up or level a hollow place 增 zēng to increase (opposite of 减) 幸 xìng happy; fortunate 盐 yán salt (chemistry): compound composed of metal ions (including ammonium) and acid radicals 社 shè earth deity, and the place, day, and rites for worshipping it in ancient times 肚 dù belly; abdomen
HSK 5
均 jūn even; equal 型 xíng mold; model 域 yù territory; domain within defined boundaries 培 péi to heap soil around the base of a plant or embankment 堆 duī a pile; a heap of accumulated things
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
墙 qiáng wall (built of brick, stone, etc. to support a roof or divide spaces)
HSK 6
吐 tǔ to spit out (something from the mouth) 坛 tán raised platform used for ceremonies such as sacrifices or military oaths, typically built of earth and stone 坡 pō slope; incline 埋 mái to cover with sand, soil, or other material 塔 tǎ pagoda (Buddhist tower, originally housing sacred relics, polygonal or square with tapering tiers)
Show more HSK 6 characters (+4)
壁 bì wall 壤 rǎng loose, soft soil 尘 chén dust, flying dirt 庄 zhuāng village; rural settlement
HSK 7
啬 sè miserly, stingy with money or possessions 圣 shèng supremely exalted and wise 坊 fāng lane or alley (used in urban street names) 坎 kǎn one of the Eight Trigrams, symbol '☵', representing water 坑 kēng pit; hollow depression
Show more HSK 7 characters (+29)
坝 bà dam or embankment built to block or protect against a river 坟 fén grave mound; burial mound 坠 zhuì to fall; to drop down 坦 tǎn flat and wide 坪 píng flat open ground 坷 kě (lit.) used in '坎坷': ① (of roads) bumpy and uneven (opposite of '平坦'); ② figuratively, hardship and frustration; going poorly; unfulfilled 垄 lǒng ridge of soil in a ploughed field for planting crops 垒 lěi defensive wall or fortification in ancient military camps 垦 kěn to reclaim wasteland, to open up land for cultivation 垫 diàn to prop up, pad, or line something to raise, thicken, level, or insulate it 垮 kuǎ to collapse, to cave in 堕 duò to fall, to drop down 堡 bǎo fort; fortress 堤 dī embankment; dike built along a river, lake, or sea 堪 kān can; be able to; be worthy of 塌 tā to collapse, cave in 塘 táng embankment; dike 墅 shù villa; garden-style residence for leisure (usually in suburbs or scenic areas) 墓 mù grave; tomb 墟 xū ruins; a deserted place formerly inhabited by many people 墨 mò ink stick (made from soot or pine smoke); also the liquid ink made by grinding it with water 寺 sì ancient government office 捏 niē to pinch (with thumb and fingers) 杜 dù birchleaf pear tree (a deciduous tree with small, astringent fruit, used as main rootstock for grafting pears) 灶 zào stove or cooking range made of brick, earth, stone, or metal 牡 mǔ male (of birds and animals, opposite of 牝) 疆 jiāng border, boundary 睦 mù harmonious; amicable 赤 chì red; a shade slightly lighter than vermilion
1.2 欠 qiàn — to yawn (open the mouth when tired)
欠 is a component in 18 characters
HSK 1
欢 huān joyful, happy 歌 gē song; lyrics that can be sung
HSK 2
次 cì order; rank
HSK 3
饮 yǐn to drink; especially to drink alcohol
HSK 4
吹 chuī to blow (air from the mouth) 歉 qiàn poor harvest (opposite of 丰)
HSK 5
欣 xīn joyful, delighted 欧 Ōu 款 kuǎn sincere; hospitable 软 ruǎn soft, not firm (opposite of 硬)
HSK 6
欲 yù desire; craving for something or wish to achieve a goal 欺 qī to deceive, to cheat 歇 xiē to rest 砍 kǎn to chop or hack with a knife, axe, etc.
HSK 7
坎 kǎn one of the Eight Trigrams, symbol '☵', representing water 嵌 qiàn to inlay; to embed a smaller piece into a recess of a larger object (often decorative) 炊 chuī to cook (a meal), to make a fire for cooking 钦 qīn to admire; to respect

Stroke order

2 坷 kě — (lit.) used in '坎坷': ① (of roads) bumpy and uneven (opposite of '平坦'); ② figuratively, hardship and frustration; going poorly; unfulfilled

坷 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 土 tǔ — soil; earth (mixture of sand, clay, etc. on the ground)
土 is a component in 76 characters
HSK 1
再 zài twice; a second time 去 qù to go (away from the speaker, opposite of 来) 在 zài to exist; to live 坐 zuò to sit (resting buttocks on a chair or other surface) 块 kuài lump; chunk; clump
Show more HSK 1 characters (+1)
里 lǐ inner lining (of clothing, bedding, etc.); reverse side of a fabric
HSK 2
周 zhōu periphery; circle 地 dì the Earth, one of the eight planets in the solar system 场 chǎng a place or large area suited for certain needs 坏 huài evil; vicious; destructive 走 zǒu to walk; (of birds or animals) to move the feet forward alternately
HSK 3
城 chéng city wall 境 jìng border; boundary; frontier
HSK 4
压 yā to press down on an object (often from above) 圾 jī used in 垃圾: ① refuse, trash, waste matter; ② fig. harmful elements in society 址 zhǐ location of a building; foundation 垃 lā used in 垃圾 (lājī): ① garbage, refuse ② (attributive) worthless or harmful 基 jī foundation; base of a building
Show more HSK 4 characters (+9)
堂 táng main hall; large imposing room 堵 dǔ to block; to obstruct 塑 sù to model; to sculpt 填 tián to fill up or level a hollow place 增 zēng to increase (opposite of 减) 幸 xìng happy; fortunate 盐 yán salt (chemistry): compound composed of metal ions (including ammonium) and acid radicals 社 shè earth deity, and the place, day, and rites for worshipping it in ancient times 肚 dù belly; abdomen
HSK 5
均 jūn even; equal 型 xíng mold; model 域 yù territory; domain within defined boundaries 培 péi to heap soil around the base of a plant or embankment 堆 duī a pile; a heap of accumulated things
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
墙 qiáng wall (built of brick, stone, etc. to support a roof or divide spaces)
HSK 6
吐 tǔ to spit out (something from the mouth) 坛 tán raised platform used for ceremonies such as sacrifices or military oaths, typically built of earth and stone 坡 pō slope; incline 埋 mái to cover with sand, soil, or other material 塔 tǎ pagoda (Buddhist tower, originally housing sacred relics, polygonal or square with tapering tiers)
Show more HSK 6 characters (+4)
壁 bì wall 壤 rǎng loose, soft soil 尘 chén dust, flying dirt 庄 zhuāng village; rural settlement
HSK 7
啬 sè miserly, stingy with money or possessions 圣 shèng supremely exalted and wise 坊 fāng lane or alley (used in urban street names) 坎 kǎn one of the Eight Trigrams, symbol '☵', representing water 坑 kēng pit; hollow depression
Show more HSK 7 characters (+29)
坝 bà dam or embankment built to block or protect against a river 坟 fén grave mound; burial mound 坠 zhuì to fall; to drop down 坦 tǎn flat and wide 坪 píng flat open ground 坷 kě (lit.) used in '坎坷': ① (of roads) bumpy and uneven (opposite of '平坦'); ② figuratively, hardship and frustration; going poorly; unfulfilled 垄 lǒng ridge of soil in a ploughed field for planting crops 垒 lěi defensive wall or fortification in ancient military camps 垦 kěn to reclaim wasteland, to open up land for cultivation 垫 diàn to prop up, pad, or line something to raise, thicken, level, or insulate it 垮 kuǎ to collapse, to cave in 堕 duò to fall, to drop down 堡 bǎo fort; fortress 堤 dī embankment; dike built along a river, lake, or sea 堪 kān can; be able to; be worthy of 塌 tā to collapse, cave in 塘 táng embankment; dike 墅 shù villa; garden-style residence for leisure (usually in suburbs or scenic areas) 墓 mù grave; tomb 墟 xū ruins; a deserted place formerly inhabited by many people 墨 mò ink stick (made from soot or pine smoke); also the liquid ink made by grinding it with water 寺 sì ancient government office 捏 niē to pinch (with thumb and fingers) 杜 dù birchleaf pear tree (a deciduous tree with small, astringent fruit, used as main rootstock for grafting pears) 灶 zào stove or cooking range made of brick, earth, stone, or metal 牡 mǔ male (of birds and animals, opposite of 牝) 疆 jiāng border, boundary 睦 mù harmonious; amicable 赤 chì red; a shade slightly lighter than vermilion
2.2 可 kě — yes; correct; to permit
可 is a component in 8 characters
HSK 1
哥 gē older brother; elder male relative of the same generation
HSK 3
奇 qí rare; special; extraordinary 河 hé river (natural or artificial waterway) 阿 ā (dial.) prefix placed before a ranking, nickname, or surname to express affection
HSK 4
何 hé interrogative pronoun: ① what ② where ③ why
HSK 7
呵 hē to scold angrily 坷 kě (lit.) used in '坎坷': ① (of roads) bumpy and uneven (opposite of '平坦'); ② figuratively, hardship and frustration; going poorly; unfulfilled 苛 kē burdensome, oppressive, hard to bear

Stroke order