Definition
窘迫 (jiǒng pò) describes either financial hardship or an awkward, embarrassing situation. It is more formal and literary than 尴尬 (gān gà), which focuses on social awkwardness, and 难堪 (nán kān), which emphasizes the feeling of being unable to bear the embarrassment. 窘迫 can also mean 'poverty-stricken', a sense the other two do not share.
adjective
poverty-strickenfinancially hard-pressedembarrassedin an awkward predicament
Examples
- 窘迫,。Nà jǐ nián tā shēnghuó hěn jiǒng pò, lián chīfàn dōu chéng wèntí.In those years, his life was very hard up — even eating was a problem.
- ,窘迫。Bèi dāngzhòng jiēchuān hòu, tā gǎndào shífēn jiǒng pò.After being exposed publicly, he felt extremely embarrassed.
- ,窘迫。Miànlín zhèyàng de xuǎnzé, chǔjìng quèshí jiǒng pò.Faced with such a choice, the situation is indeed awkward.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.