困る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 困る(こまる) describes being troubled by a situation or not knowing what to do.
• Basic usage: It is used for difficulties caused by a sudden absence at work or by getting lost while traveling.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Being troubled and causing trouble
  • 困っている describes someone being in difficulty. 人を困らせる is a causative expression meaning to cause someone trouble, shifting the focus from the person affected to the cause.