rěnshòu: 忍受 - To Endure, To Bear, To Tolerate

• Keywords: renshou, ren shou, 忍受, Chinese for endure, Chinese word for tolerate, how to say bear in Chinese, 忍受 vs 忍耐, Chinese character for patience, withstand hardship, put up with
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 忍受 (rěnshòu), which means to endure, bear, or tolerate something unpleasant or difficult. This HSK 4 verb is essential for expressing the feeling of putting up with hardship, from a noisy neighbor to a difficult job. This page breaks down its characters, cultural significance, and practical usage, contrasting it with similar terms like `忍耐 (rěnnài)` to help you master its specific, often passive, connotation of withstanding something you can't easily change.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): rěnshòu
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To bear, endure, or tolerate something painful, unpleasant, or difficult.
• In a Nutshell: 忍受 (rěnshòu) is about putting up with a negative external situation that is forced upon you. Think of it as the feeling of gritting your teeth and getting through something you don't like because you have little choice in the matter. It's the word you'd use for enduring a long, boring meeting, a painful medical treatment, or the loud construction work outside your window. It implies a sense of passive acceptance of suffering or annoyance.

• 忍 (rěn): This powerful character is a combination of a blade (刃, often shown as 刀) on top of a heart (心). The image is a “knife over the heart,” a vivid depiction of the pain one must suppress or forbear. It represents the internal struggle of holding back and enduring.
• 受 (shòu): This character means “to receive,” “to accept,” or “to suffer.” It carries a passive feeling, as if something is happening *to* you.
• The Combination: Together, 忍受 (rěnshòu) literally means “to endure receiving” a negative experience. The character 忍 provides the internal feeling of pain and forbearance, while 受 provides the context of passively receiving it from an outside source. This creates a specific meaning of bearing a hardship that comes from the outside world.

The concept of 忍 (rěn), the root of 忍受 (rěnshòu), is a cornerstone of Chinese philosophy, influencing everything from Taoism and Buddhism to everyday social etiquette. It is considered a virtue representing patience, self-restraint, and inner strength. To 忍受 (rěnshòu) a difficult situation without complaint is often seen not as weakness, but as a sign of maturity and resilience. This is subtly different from the Western concept of “sucking it up,” which can sometimes be about projecting an image of toughness. In Chinese culture, enduring hardship quietly can be a way to maintain social harmony (和谐, héxié), show respect, or simply bide one's time until circumstances improve. It reflects a collectivist value where individual discomfort is often subordinated for the greater good of the family, company, or community. For example, an employee might 忍受 an unreasonable boss to keep a stable job for their family, an act that would be viewed as responsible and praiseworthy.

忍受 (rěnshòu) is a common word used in both formal and informal contexts to describe tolerating negative things. It almost always has a negative connotation, as you only endure things you dislike.

• Work and School: Used to talk about enduring a demanding boss, long work hours, a boring lecture, or difficult colleagues.
• Daily Life: Commonly used for tolerating noise, bad weather, traffic jams, or a partner's annoying habits.
• Physical and Emotional States: Used to describe bearing physical pain, illness, or emotional distress like loneliness or grief.

A very common and dramatic phrase you will hear is “我受不了了! (Wǒ shòu bu liǎo le!)”, which means “I can't stand it anymore!”. This is the breaking point after a long period of 忍受.

• Example 1:
  • 我再也忍受不了这里的噪音了！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zàiyě rěnshòu bu liǎo zhèlǐ de zàoyīn le!
  • English: I can't endure the noise here anymore!
  • Analysis: A classic and emotional use of the term. The structure `再也…不了 (zàiyě…bu liǎo)` means “not anymore,” indicating the speaker has reached their limit of tolerance.
• Example 2:
  • 为了孩子，她忍受了多年的不幸福的婚姻。
  • Pinyin: Wèile háizi, tā rěnshòu le duōnián de bù xìngfú de hūnyīn.
  • English: For the sake of her children, she endured many years of an unhappy marriage.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural aspect of enduring personal hardship for the good of the family. It's a serious and somber use of the word.
• Example 3:
  • 病人必须忍受巨大的疼痛。
  • Pinyin: Bìngrén bìxū rěnshòu jùdà de téngtòng.
  • English: The patient must bear immense pain.
  • Analysis: Here, `忍受` refers to withstanding physical suffering. It's a neutral, factual description of a difficult situation.
• Example 4:
  • 你需要忍受暂时的困难，未来会更好的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào rěnshòu zànshí de kùnnan, wèilái huì gèng hǎo de.
  • English: You need to endure the temporary difficulties; the future will be better.
  • Analysis: This is a form of encouragement, framing `忍受` as a temporary state before things improve. It's about getting through a tough phase.
• Example 5:
  • 我不明白他为什么要忍受老板对他的不公平对待。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù míngbai tā wèishéme yào rěnshòu lǎobǎn duì tā de bù gōngpíng duìdài.
  • English: I don't understand why he has to tolerate the boss's unfair treatment of him.
  • Analysis: This sentence questions the necessity of enduring something, implying that the person should perhaps stand up for themselves instead.
• Example 6:
  • 住在城市里，就得忍受交通堵塞。
  • Pinyin: Zhù zài chéngshì lǐ, jiù děi rěnshòu jiāotōng dǔsè.
  • English: If you live in the city, you have to put up with traffic jams.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates `忍受` for a common, unavoidable annoyance of daily life. The structure `就得 (jiù děi)` means “then you have to…”
• Example 7:
  • 他默默地忍受着所有的误解和批评。
  • Pinyin: Tā mòmò de rěnshòu zhe suǒyǒu de wùjiě hé pīpíng.
  • English: He silently endured all the misunderstandings and criticism.
  • Analysis: The adverb `默默地 (mòmò de)` means “silently,” which reinforces the quiet, internal nature of enduring emotional pain often associated with `忍受`.
• Example 8:
  • 这种炎热的天气真让人难以忍受。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng yánrè de tiānqì zhēn ràng rén nányǐ rěnshòu.
  • English: This hot weather is truly hard to bear.
  • Analysis: The structure `难以 (nányǐ)` means “difficult to,” and is often paired with `忍受` to emphasize how hard something is to tolerate.
• Example 9:
  • 运动员们忍受着艰苦的训练，为国争光。
  • Pinyin: Yùndòngyuánmen rěnshòu zhe jiānkǔ de xùnliàn, wèi guó zhēng guāng.
  • English: The athletes endure arduous training to win glory for the country.
  • Analysis: While `忍受` is negative, the context can make the act of enduring heroic. Here, they endure hardship for a noble goal.
• Example 10:
  • 我可以忍受他的缺点，因为我爱他。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ rěnshòu tā de quēdiǎn, yīnwèi wǒ ài tā.
  • English: I can tolerate his shortcomings because I love him.
  • Analysis: This shows `忍受` used in the context of personal relationships, where tolerating flaws is a part of commitment.

The most common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 忍受 (rěnshòu) from 忍耐 (rěnnài).

• 忍受 (rěnshòu) - To Bear/Endure (something external): Focuses on passively putting up with an external source of pain, annoyance, or hardship. You 忍受 noise, a bad smell, a mean boss, or physical pain. It's about the thing you are forced to withstand.
• 忍耐 (rěnnài) - To Be Patient/Forbear (an internal quality): Focuses on your internal self-control and patience. You 忍耐 while waiting in a long line, or you 忍耐 your anger and don't yell. It's a virtue, an active exercise of self-restraint.

Common Mistake: Using `忍受` when you mean to show patience.

• Incorrect: 我忍受地等了两个小时。 (Wǒ rěnshòu de děngle liǎng ge xiǎoshí.)
• Why it's wrong: `忍受` means to endure a hardship. While waiting can be a hardship, the sentence structure implies you are patiently performing the action of waiting. The correct word to describe your patient state of mind is `忍耐` or `耐心 (nàixīn)`.
• Correct: 我耐心地等了两个小时。 (Wǒ nàixīn de děngle liǎng ge xiǎoshí.) - I patiently waited for two hours.
• Correct use of 忍受: 我忍受了等待的无聊。 (Wǒ rěnshòu le děngdài de wúliáo.) - I endured the boredom of waiting. Here, you are enduring the *state of boredom*, not the action of waiting itself.

• 忍耐 (rěnnài) - A close relative. It means “to have patience” or “to practice forbearance.” It is an internal, active virtue, whereas `忍受` is a passive response to an external pressure.
• 承受 (chéngshòu) - To bear or to shoulder, often used for abstract things like pressure, responsibility, or consequences. It can be neutral or even positive (e.g., `承受` responsibility). Less about pain than `忍受`.
• 容忍 (róngrěn) - To tolerate or to condone, usually someone's bad behavior or faults. It implies a conscious decision to allow something to happen, often when you have the power to stop it.
• 坚持 (jiānchí) - To persevere or insist. This is an active, positive word for sticking with a goal despite difficulties. It is the opposite of the passive endurance implied by `忍受`.
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - Literally “to eat bitterness.” A very common phrase meaning to endure hardship, especially with the belief that it builds character or will lead to future success.
• 受不了 (shòu bu liǎo) - “Can't stand it” or “can't bear it.” This is what you say when your ability to `忍受` has run out.
• 忍 (rěn) - The root character and concept. As a single character, it stands for the virtue of forbearance, patience, and endurance. A famous proverb is `小不忍则乱大谋 (xiǎo bù rěn zé luàn dà móu)` - “A little impatience can spoil a great plan.”