忍耐

• Pinyin: rěn nài
• Hanzi breakdown: 忍 = 刃 + 心 (blade over heart = to endure); 耐 = 而 + 寸 (perseverance carefully measured out)

Meaning

To endure; to exercise patience and self-restraint in the face of difficulty, pain, or frustration.

Implies a deliberate, active effort to withstand hardship. More forceful than 忍受 (to bear/tolerate), suggesting willpower and determination. Used in emotional, physical, and situational contexts.

Examples

1. 面对不公平的待遇，他选择了忍耐，等待时机成熟。 Faced with unfair treatment, he chose to endure it and wait for the right moment.
2. 在漫长的康复过程中，她展现出了惊人的忍耐力。 During the long recovery, she showed remarkable endurance.
3. 忍耐不是懦弱，而是一种高度的自我控制能力。 Endurance isn’t weakness—it’s a high level of self-control.

Usage Guide

Context: psychology, everyday, ethics

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 在创业初期，你必须有足够的忍耐，不能急于求成。(In the early stages of a start-up, you must have enough patience and not rush for results.)
• 他忍耐了多年的委屈，终于在适当的时候说出了真相。(He endured years of grievance and finally spoke the truth at the right moment.)

Don't Say

• 请忍耐一点点 — this sounds awkward; say 请稍安勿躁 (please be patient) or 请再坚持一下 (please hold on a little longer)

Origin & History

忍 (endure) + 耐 (withstand/patience)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal