坎儿

坎兒

kǎnr

noun #47,089

Meanings

HSK 7-9

事情正在坎儿上，别添乱。

Shìqíng zhèngzài kǎnr shàng, bié tiānluàn.

Things are at a critical juncture - don't make trouble.

HSK 7-9

这话可说到坎儿上了。

Zhèhuà kě shuō dào kǎnr shàng le.

Those words hit exactly the right spot.

HSK 7-9

他正卡在一个坎儿上过不去。

Tā zhèng kǎ zài yīgè kǎnr shàng guòbuqù.

He's stuck on a tough hurdle and can't get past it.

Colloquial Beijing-flavored speech with the 儿化 suffix. From 坎 (kǎn, threshold/ditch) - a metaphorical 'sticking point' you have to get over.

usage

Often appears in 在坎儿上 (at a critical point) or 过这个坎儿 (get past this hurdle). Compare 关口 (key juncture) - more formal.

坎 kǎn

儿 ér