Chinese word

忍

Pronunciation

Pinyinrěn

Meaning

  • verbput up with

Example

我不能再忍了。wǒ bù néng zài rěn le

I can't put up with it anymore.

Illustration for 忍 (put up with)

More examples

他看了那段视频，忍不住流泪。tā kàn le nà duàn shì pín rěn bú zhù liú lèi

After watching that video, he could not hold back his tears.

Core concept

Keeps an unpleasant pressure inside instead of letting a reaction come out.

Common phrases

  • 忍住rěn zhù

    hold back

  • 忍不住rěn bú zhù

    be unable to hold back

  • 忍受痛苦rěn shòu tòng kǔ

    endure suffering

  • 忍让rěn ràng

    yield

Similar words

忍受rěn shòu: To endure pain, harm, or other trouble that comes from outside.
忍耐rěn nài: To keep patiently enduring a long wait or ongoing difficulty.
忍不住rěn bú zhù: To be unable to stop an emotion or reaction from coming out.

Definition in Chinese

遭遇不愉快、痛苦或困难时，内心承受并抑制反应或情绪的动词。zāo yù bù yú kuài tòng kǔ huò kùn nán shí nèi xīn chéng shòu bìng yì zhì fǎn yìng huò qíng xù de dòng cí

Word origin

The character is built from 心 (xīn, "heart") beneath 刃 (rèn, "blade"): 心 supplies the meaning of an inner response, while 刃 supplies the sound and evokes pain held in check.

Usage tips

  • This verb is especially useful for expressing a limit, since time words such as "any longer" can turn a calm statement into a clear refusal to continue enduring something.

Other meanings

  • hold backverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word