na-adjective, noun
A somewhat formal or literary term for misfortune or calamity, often used with a sense of adversity or hardship. Can be used as a noun or adjectival noun.
御難が続いて、彼はすっかり弱気になっていた。
A series of misfortunes had completely discouraged him.
この御難な状況をどう乗り越えればいいのか。
How should we overcome this calamitous situation?
災難 is a more common word for disaster or calamity, while 御難 has a slightly more formal or literary tone with the honorific prefix.
不幸 is the general term for unhappiness or misfortune; 御難 emphasizes the event or hardship itself rather than the emotional state.
Compound of honorific prefix 御 (ご) and 難 (なん, 'difficulty, hardship'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of forming respectful or formal nouns.