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March 24, 2026
忍rěn(ren3)
The character 忍 (rěn) means 'to bear' or 'to endure.' It is commonly used in contexts that involve patience or the ability to withstand difficult situations. This term is often associated with self-control and the capacity to tolerate hardships.
Strokes7Radical心Frequency#2335DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture,忍 is often associated with the virtue of patience and self-restraint, which is highly valued in social interactions and personal development. It reflects the philosophical influences of Confucianism, where enduring hardship is seen as a pathway to growth.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding in their breath and trying to remain calm in a storm. The character 忍 is made up of the radical '心' (heart) at the bottom, symbolizing emotional endurance, and '忍' which suggests the action of holding back. Think of 'rěn' as 'run' away from the storm, but instead, you choose to endure it.
Meanings of 忍
rěn(ren3)
1to bear
2to endure
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 忍
忍Simplified
7Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2335Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 忍
Podcast: 忍
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AI Study Notes for 忍
Quick Contrast
忍 (rěn) vs 忍耐 (rěnnài) — use 忍 for the act of enduring itself, while 忍耐 emphasizes the patience involved in enduring.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding in their breath and trying to remain calm in a storm. The character 忍 is made up of the radical '心' (heart) at the bottom, symbolizing emotional endurance, and '忍' which suggests the action of holding back. Think of 'rěn' as 'run' away from the storm, but instead, you choose to endure it.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 忍, as it is a third tone (rěn). Common collocations include 忍耐 (rěnnài, to endure) and 忍受 (rěnshòu, to tolerate). This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but should be used with care in sensitive discussions regarding personal struggles.
HSK Study Tips
Although 忍 is not currently in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words like 耐心 (nàixīn, patience) and 受 (shòu, to receive), as they all relate to endurance and tolerance. Students should focus on its pronunciation and usage in phrases.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture,忍 is often associated with the virtue of patience and self-restraint, which is highly valued in social interactions and personal development. It reflects the philosophical influences of Confucianism, where enduring hardship is seen as a pathway to growth.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 忍 with its synonyms and use it incorrectly. For example, saying '我忍了' (wǒ rěn le) could imply one has already endured something rather than expressing ongoing tolerance—correct usage would be '我在忍' (wǒ zài rěn) to indicate current endurance.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忍
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Grammar Patterns of 忍
忍 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
War turns morality inside out: killing and cruelty are virtues.
6
这实在很离奇，我忍不住咯咯笑了起来。
zhè shí zài hěn lí qí， ， wǒ rěn bù zhù kǎ kǎ xiào le qǐ。
It was so unreal that I broke into a fit of giggles.
7
他强忍住沾沾自喜的笑容。
tā qiáng rěn zhù zhān zhān zì xǐ de xiào róng。
He tried hard not to smile in smug self-satisfaction.
8
他还简单谈及了他被俘期间忍受的孤独。
tā huán jiǎn dān tán jí le tā bèi fú qī jiān rěn shòu de gū dú。
He also talked briefly about the isolation he endured while in captivity.
9
这时候，我的心里像有个东西突然绷断了——我再也忍受不了啦。
zhè shí hòu， ， wǒ de xīn lǐ xiàng yǒu gè dōng xī tū rán bēng duàn—— le —— wǒ zài yě rěn shòu bù。
Then something seemed to snap in me. I couldn't endure any more.
10
能够忍受我，我的女朋友真的很有耐心。
néng gòu rěn shòu wǒ， ， wǒ de nǚ péng yǒu zhēn de hěn yǒu nài。
My girlfriend is a saint to put up with me.
Cultural Notes for 忍
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture,忍 is often associated with the virtue of patience and self-restraint, which is highly valued in social interactions and personal development. It reflects the philosophical influences of Confucianism, where enduring hardship is seen as a pathway to growth.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While both cultures value patience, Western contexts may emphasize expressing emotions more openly, whereas in Chinese culture,忍 highlights the importance of internal strength and emotional control.
Word Family of 忍
Compounds6
涊
荵
梕
綛
認ren4to know, to recognize, to understand
躵
Words Containing This Character20
忍rěnto bear
忍受rěnshòuto bear
忍不住rěnbuzhùcannot help
残忍cánrěncruel殘忍
容忍róngrěnto put up with
忍耐rěnnàito endure
忍心rěnxīnto have the heart to do sth
不忍disturbed
忍无可忍the last straw忍無可忍
惨不忍睹appalling scenes of devastation慘不忍睹
难以忍受hard to endure難以忍受
隐忍to bear patiently隱忍
忍让to exercise forbearance忍讓
忍痛to suffer
忍气吞声to swallow one's anger忍氣吞聲
坚忍persevering堅忍
忍俊不禁cannot help laughing
忍辱负重to endure humiliation as part of an important mission (idiom); to suffer in silence忍辱負重
忍耐力patience
忍痛割爱to resign oneself to part with what one treasures忍痛割愛
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 認 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 忍
Use 忍 (rěn) when you want to express the act of enduring or restraining oneself, especially in emotional contexts. In contrast, other characters like 承受 (chéngshòu) may be more appropriate for physical or external burdens. Understanding the context will help you choose the right term.
Some common phrases that include 忍 are '忍耐' (rěnnài) meaning to endure, and '忍不住' (rěn bù zhù) meaning unable to restrain oneself. These phrases highlight the character's meaning in various contexts, such as patience and emotional restraint.
忍 (rěn) means to bear, endure, or tolerate. It can also imply restraining oneself in various contexts, such as emotional control or patience. This character is often used in expressions related to perseverance and self-discipline.
To use 忍 (rěn) in a sentence, you might say '我忍不住哭了' (Wǒ rěn bù zhù kū le), which means 'I couldn't help but cry.' This illustrates the concept of enduring or restraining in an emotional context. You can also use it in phrases like '忍耐' (rěnnài), meaning to endure or be patient.
You can say '我忍不住了' (wǒ rěn bù zhù le), which means 'I can't bear it anymore.'
Synonyms include 忍耐 (rěnnài) and 忍受 (rěnshòu), both meaning to endure or tolerate.
Yes, the idiom '忍辱负重' (rěn rǔ fù zhòng) means to endure humiliation for a greater purpose.
