Japanese word

耐える

Pronunciation

Romajitaeru

Meaning

  • verbbear

Example

私はこの痛みに耐えます。watashi wa ko no ita mi ni ta e ma su

I bear this pain.

Illustration for 耐える (bear)

More examples

彼は厳しい練習に耐えました。kare wa kibi shi i ren shū ni ta e ma shi ta

He endured the hard training.

Core concept

Means holding out against something painful, difficult, or burdensome instead of yielding to it.

Common phrases

  • 痛みに耐えるita mi ni ta e ru

    endure pain

  • 暑さに耐えるatsu sa ni ta e ru

    endure the heat

  • 批判に耐えるhi han ni ta e ru

    withstand criticism

Similar words

我慢するgamansuru: To endure pain, discomfort, or difficulty without giving up.
こらえるkoraeru: To withstand pain or hardship while keeping a reaction under control.

Definition in Japanese

痛みや苦しさなどをこらえ、困難な状態を切り抜ける。ita mi ya kuru shi sa na do o ko ra e kon nan na jō tai o ki ri nu ke ru

Word origin

耐える (taeru) comes from the native Japanese verb 堪ふ (tafu, "endure"), whose form changed in modern Japanese; 耐 (tai, "endure") was adopted for its spelling because of its related meaning.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, bear can describe enduring noise, heat, or waiting, so its object need not be physical pain.

Other meanings

  • put up withverb

Opposites

  • 屈するkussurugive inverb

Related words

  • 耐え難いtaegataiunbearablei-adjective

Word lists with this word