Describes a situation, period, or path that is full of hardships, obstacles, or difficulties. Often used in set phrases like 多難な時代 or 前途多難.
We somehow made it through that turbulent era.
His life was full of troubles.
前途多難だが、あきらめない。
The road ahead is difficult, but I won't give up.
The company grew by overcoming many hardships along the way.
苦難 emphasizes the suffering or hardship itself, whereas 多難 emphasizes the sheer number of difficulties encountered.
波乱 highlights dramatic ups and downs or turmoil, while 多難 focuses on repeated hardships or obstacles along the way.
Standard kanji spelling; it is a common news word.
Compound of 多 (many) and 難 (difficulty, trouble). The meaning is transparent from its components.