難関(なんかん)

なんかん
noun
barrier; difficult challenge; hurdle
educationabstract
1. barrier; difficult challenge; formidable hurdle
A difficult obstacle or challenge that is hard to overcome. Commonly used for competitive exams, university admissions, and difficult stages in a process.
最大(さいだい)の難関(なんかん)を突破(とっぱ)した。
We broke through the biggest hurdle.
難関(なんかん)大学(だいがく)に合格(ごうかく)するのは簡単(かんたん)ではない。
Getting into a prestigious university is not easy.
面接(めんせつ)試験(しけん)が最後(さいご)の難関(なんかん)だったが、なんとか乗(の)り越(こ)えた。
The interview was the final hurdle, but I managed to get through it.

Usage

難関(なんかん) is frequently used as a modifier: 難関(なんかん)大学(だいがく) (prestigious/competitive university), 難関(なんかん)試験(しけん) (difficult exam), 難関(なんかん)資格(しかく) (difficult qualification). It implies something that requires considerable effort to overcome.

Common collocations

Related Words

Synonym: 関門(かんもん) (gate; checkpoint)
Compare: 困難(こんなん) (difficulty, hardship)
Compare: 難所(なんしょ) (difficult spot)
general
Added 2026.3.11 9:56 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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