khó xử
[xɔ˧˦ sɨ˧˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(adjective) difficult to deal with; between a rock and a hard place
Adjective
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
tình huống khó xửa difficult situation
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
between a rock and a hard place
Faced with two equally undesirable alternatives.
English
Near equivalent
tiến thoái lưỡng nan
between a rock and a hard place; a dilemma.
Tiếng Việt · via between a rock and a hard place
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “khó xử” mean?
(adjective) difficult to deal with; between a rock and a hard place
Is “khó xử” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“between a rock and a hard place” (English) — near equivalent.