忍

rěn

刃 + 心

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

rěn (verb) to endure; to bear; to tolerate

rěn (verb) to restrain oneself

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 刃 represents the sound.

About

忍 is a phonosemantic compound: the heart radical 心 points to the realm of emotions and inner states, while 刃 "blade" provides the sound. Visually, the blade placed directly above the heart evokes a knife-edge pressed against one's core, capturing the ability to endure pain, tolerate hardship, hold back strong feelings, and exercise strict self-restraint. The character thus spans a negative shade of cruel, hard-hearted indifference, as if the heart were as cold as steel, and the positive virtues of patience, fortitude, and the resilience needed to withstand provocation without giving in.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他忍耐了很久。

Tā rěnnài le hěn jiǔ.

He endured for a long time.

我忍受不了噪音。

Wǒ rěnshòu bùliǎo zàoyīn.

I can't bear the noise.

她忍心拒绝吗？

Tā rěnxīn jùjué ma?

Does she have the heart to refuse?

孩子忍不住哭了。

Háizi rěn bù zhù kū le.

The child couldn't help but cry.

工作要有耐心。

Gōngzuò yào yǒu nàixīn.

Work requires patience.

忍一忍就没事了。

Rěn yī rěn jiù méishì le.

Endure a bit and it will be fine.

在压力下，他学会了忍耐。

Zài yālì xià, tā xuéhuì le rěnnài.

Under pressure, he learned to endure.

面对不公平，他选择忍耐并继续努力。

Miànduì bù gōngpíng, tā xuǎnzé rěnnài bìng jìxù nǔlì.

Facing unfairness, he chose to endure and continue striving.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 刃

Component: 心

忍