difficult, trying, be distressed, parent's funeral ceremony, mourning, perilous
艱 centers on severe hardship: something difficult, trying, or perilous. The meanings related to a parent's funeral ceremony and mourning are specific cultural applications of deep distress.
艱 combines a left side related to hardship or difficulty with 艮, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The exact historical development of the left component is uncertain.
The left side looks like a person struggling under a heavy load, and the right side 艮 resembles a stubborn obstacle. Together they show someone facing a difficult, trying situation.
For カン, imagine a person enduring a difficult ordeal inside a can: can -> カン, and the can represents the hardship they cannot escape.
problems that affect a period of time; hardships peculiar to an age; hard problems of the times
hardship; suffering; privation; adversity
hardships; privations; difficulties
hardship makes the man
trials and tribulations; adversities; suffering hardships and troubles
trial and tribulation; hardships; privations; difficulties
trials and tribulations; adversities; suffering hardships and troubles