predicament; difficult situation; plight
A somewhat formal or literary term for a tight spot or difficult circumstances. Often used in written or serious contexts.
He is in a financial predicament.
The policy saved many families from a difficult situation.
Compound of 窮 (きゅう, 'extreme, destitute') and 境 (きょう, 'boundary, situation'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys being at the limit of one's circumstances.