窮地(きゅうち)

A formal word for a desperate situation from which escape seems very difficult.

Forms

窮(きゅう) (cornered, exhausted) + 地(ち) (ground, position)

Common collocations

• 窮地(きゅうち)に陥(おちい)る: to fall into a predicament
• 窮地(きゅうち)に立(た)たされる: to be placed in a tight spot
• 窮地(きゅうち)を脱(だっ)する: to escape a predicament
• 窮地(きゅうち)に追(お)い込(こ)む: to drive someone into a corner
• 窮地(きゅうち)を乗(の)り越(こ)える: to overcome a dire situation

Similar words

• ピンチ: pinch, tight spot (casual, loanword)
• 苦境(くきょう): difficult circumstances (slightly less severe)
• 危機(きき): crisis (focuses on danger)
• 窮地(きゅうち) is more literary and dramatic than ピンチ.