a situation that makes problems, often one in which you have to make a very difficult choice between things of equal importance （进退两难的）窘境，困境 I could see no way of resolving this moral dilemma. 我想不出解决这一道德困境的办法。 The digital era brings new ethical dilemmas for journalists. 数字时代给记者带来了新的道德困境。 - in a dilemma
They were caught in a real dilemma. 他们陷入了进退两难的境地。 - dilemma about/over something
She faced a dilemma about whether to accept the offer or not. 她左右为难，不知道是否该接受提议。 - dilemma between A and B
the perennial dilemma between work and family commitments 事业成功与履行家庭义务之间长期存在的矛盾
Extra ExamplesTopics Preferences and decisionsc1I couldn't see any way out of the dilemma. 我看不到有任何摆脱这个两难局面的办法。 The dilemma facing the country's allies was even more serious. 这个国家的盟国面临的两难困境更加严峻。 The dilemma over human cloning lies at the heart of the ethical choices facing society. 人类克隆的两难处境本质上是社会面临的伦理选择问题。 The fundamental dilemma remains: in a tolerant society, should we tolerate intolerance? 基本的矛盾仍未消除：在宽容的社会里，我们应不应该容忍狭隘 ? The minister is now in an impossible dilemma. 部长现在陷入无法摆脱的两难境地。 This poses a difficult dilemma for teachers. 这给教师造成了进退两难的困境。 the dilemma that arises when a doctor has to decide whether or not to prescribe an expensive treatment 医生必须决定是否开昂贵处方的两难处境
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- acute
- appalling
- big
- …
- create
- pose
- present somebody with
- …
- arise
- occur
- lie
- …
- in a/the dilemma
- dilemma about
- dilemma over
- …
- a solution to a dilemma
- a way out of a dilemma
Word Originearly 16th cent. (denoting a form of argument involving a choice between equally unfavourable alternatives): via Latin from Greek dilēmma, from di- ‘twice’ + lēmma ‘premise’.
Idioms
on the horns of a dilemma
in a situation in which you have to make a choice between things that are equally unpleasant 进退两难；左右为难 The medical profession’s eagerness for scientific advance had impaled it on the horns of a dilemma, forcing an unnatural choice between science and morality. 医学界对科学进步的渴望使其陷入两难境地，迫使其在科学和道德之间做出不自然的选择。 The dire economic situation had placed the prime minister on the horns of a dilemma. 严峻的经济形势使首相进退两难。