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内忧外困

nèi yōu wài kùndictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
internal trouble and outside aggression (idiom) / in a mess both domestically and abroad
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-d9f966e4649d1d83. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

內憂外困 内忧外困 [nei4 you1 wai4 kun4] /internal trouble and outside aggression (idiom); in a mess both domestically and abroad/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 內憂外困

  • 内
    nèi

    inside / inner / internal / within / interior

  • 忧
    yōu

    to worry / to concern oneself with / worried / anxiety / sorrow / (literary) to observe mourning

  • 外
    wài

    outside / in addition / foreign / external

  • 困
    kùn

    to trap / to surround / hard-pressed / stranded / destitute / sleepy / tired

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.