困
kun4Mathews: 3688GSR: 420a
Dictionary Definition
(a, the) affliction, oppression, extremity, distress, exhaustion, fatigue, anxiety, entanglement; (to be) distressed, afflicted, beset, oppressed, surrounded, beaten, impoverished, diminished, belabored, bothered, disheartened, exhausted, fatigued, tired (out), vexed, trapped, beseiged, surrounded, confined, entangled, pressured, constrained, hard pressed, pinned down, penned in, squeezed, enclosed, (nearly) defeated (by, in, with); extreme; (to) obstruct, distress, exhaust (s, ed, ing)
Radical: 31+4 | First occurrence: Hexagram 04.4
Concordance & Context (16 occurrences)
Entries shown in Hatcher's reference chain order. First Witness at 04.4
4th Line★
surrounded, afflicted, belabored, beset (by)
困蒙，吝。
Afflicted by ignorance
A shame
Stats: 31+4→ 47.0
Gua Ci
exhaustion, oppression; beset, afflicted, tired
困，亨，贞，大人吉，無咎。有言不信。
“Fulfillment”
“Persistence”
For the mature human being, a promise,
Not a mistake
But having the words is not the conviction
→ 47.1
1st Line
beset, distressed, afflicted, belabored
臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三歲不覿。
With bottom belabored by a wooden cane
Going into the valley of gloom
For three years not seen face to face
→ 47.2
2nd Line
beset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
困于酒食，朱紱方來，利用享祀。征凶，無咎。
Oppressed before wine and food
Scarlet-sashed nobles arrive with direction
Worthwhile and productive to offer up a sacrifice
Initiative seems foreboding
But this avoids mistakes
→ 47.3
3rd Line
beset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
困于石，據于蒺藜，入于其宮，不見其妻，凶。
Oppressed by stones
Grasping at thorny brambles
Going into his house
But not seeing his wife
Unfortunate
→ 47.4
4th Line
beset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
來徐徐，困于金車，吝，有終。
Approaching slowly and gravely
Oppressed inside a gilded chariot
But this embarrassment will find an outcome
→ 47.5
5th Line
beset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
劓刖，困于赤紱，乃徐有説，利用祭祀。
Nose cut off, feet cut off
Oppressed by rouge-sashed ministers
And then gradually finding relief
Worthwhile and productive to sacrifice this sacrifice
→ 47.6
6th Line
beset, oppressed, distressed, afflicted
困于葛藟，于臲卼，曰動悔，有悔，征吉。
Oppressed by creepers and vines
Proceeding unsteadily and awkwardly
Uttering “movement is regret”
To own the regrets and go boldly forward is promising
→ 05.T
Tuan Zhuan
affliction, distress, oppression, entanglement
需，須也。險在前也，剛健而不陷，其義不困窮矣。需有孚，光亨，贞吉，位乎天位，以正中也。利涉大川，往有功也。
Anticipation
(Means) necessity
Hazards lie ahead
(Be) firm (and) persevering and so avoid complications
This means to avoid affliction (and) exhaustion completely
Anticipation
Be true
Honoring fulfillment, persistence is timely:
(Be) poised, with celestial dignity,
(And), accordingly, upright (and) balanced
Worthwhile to cross the great stream:
To make progress will be an accomplishment
→ 13.4x
Xiao Xiang 4
being distressed, afflicted, beset, belabored
乘其墉，義弗克也。其吉，則困而反則。
13.4x Mounting those battlements
Means that nothing can be done
* One’s promise
→ 04.4
Xiao Xiang 4
(the) affliction
困蒙之吝，獨遠實也。
04.4x The affliction (of) ignorance leads to shame:
Abandoned (and) far from reality
Xiao Xiang 2
oppressed
困于酒食，中有慶也。
47.2x Oppressed before wine (and) food:
Balance will have (its) rewards
Xiao Xiang 6
oppressed
困于葛藟，未當也。動悔有悔，吉行也。
47.6x Oppressed by creeping vines:
A less than proper response
* (If) movement (is) regret, have the regrets:
A promising move
Tuan Zhuan
exhaustion
困，剛揜，險以説，困而不失其所亨，其唯君子乎。贞大人吉，以剛中也。有言不信，尚口乃窮也。
Exhaustion
The firm (is) covered over
To risk leads to satisfaction
(To be) beset and still not lose that which is fulfilling
One who is truly a noble young one attains this
Persistence (is) the mature human being’s promise:
By way of the firmness within
There will be words but no assurance:
To value the oral leads to exhaustion
(to be) beset
困，剛揜，險以説，困而不失其所亨，其唯君子乎。贞大人吉，以剛中也。有言不信，尚口乃窮也。
Exhaustion
The firm (is) covered over
To risk leads to satisfaction
(To be) beset and still not lose that which is fulfilling
One who is truly a noble young one attains this
Persistence (is) the mature human being’s promise:
By way of the firmness within
There will be words but no assurance:
To value the oral leads to exhaustion
Xiang Zhuan
exhaustion
澤無水，困。君子以致命遂志。
A lake without water
Exhaustion
The noble young one, accordingly,
invokes a higher purpose to carry out intentions
→ 04.4
Homophones (kun)
Previous坤 kun1
Nextkuo4 括
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