Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
忍受 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
忍受rěnshòuto bearHSK 6, v, 15 strokes, rank #2093, Hard
忍受rěnshòuto endureHSK 6, v, 15 strokes, rank #2093, Hard
rěnshòu(ren3shou4)ren shou T3
  1. 1to bear
  2. 2to endure
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

忍受rěnshòu(ren3shou4)

忍受 (rěn shòu) means to bear or endure something difficult or unpleasant. It is commonly used in contexts where one must tolerate pain, hardship, or challenges, whether physical or emotional.

Strokes15Frequency#2093DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 忍受 is deeply tied to the value placed on endurance and perseverance, often seen as virtues in historical contexts, like during hard times in Chinese history.

Memory tip

Imagine a person (忍) holding their breath (shou) underwater, trying to endure the pressure. The character 忍 has a radical that suggests patience and resilience, while 受 resembles a person receiving something, symbolizing the act of taking on burdens.

Meanings of 忍受

rěnshòu(ren3shou4)
1to bear
2to endure
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 忍受 means.

About 忍受

忍受Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2093Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 忍受

JasonAmy

Podcast: 忍受

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 忍受

Quick Contrast

忍耐 (rěnnài) vs 忍受 (rěnshòu): use 忍耐 for enduring with self-control or patience, while 忍受 emphasizes simply bearing something unpleasant.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 忍受; the third tone in 忍 can lead to misunderstandings if pronounced incorrectly. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in discussions about mental or emotional strength.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 忍受 connects with vocabulary related to emotions and adversity. Students should focus on its application in complex sentences about personal experiences and resilience.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 忍受 with 忍耐 (rěn nài), which means to endure with patience. For example, saying '我忍耐这个痛苦' (I endure this pain) should be corrected to '我忍受这个痛苦'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 忍受

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 忍受, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 忍受 to you

Let me explain 忍受 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 忍受 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 忍受?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 忍受 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

忍rěnto bear
HSK 57 strokes心
View full entry
受shòuto receive
HSK 38 strokes又
View full entry

How to say to bear in Chinese

“to bear” in Chinese is忍受rěnshòu

忍受 (rěn shòu) means to bear or endure something difficult or unpleasant. It is commonly used in contexts where one must tolerate pain, hardship, or challenges, whether physical or emotional.

When to use 忍受

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 忍受; the third tone in 忍 can lead to misunderstandings if pronounced incorrectly. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in discussions about mental or emotional strength.

忍受 or something close to it

忍耐 (rěnnài) vs 忍受 (rěnshòu): use 忍耐 for enduring with self-control or patience, while 忍受 emphasizes simply bearing something unpleasant.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 忍受 with 忍耐 (rěn nài), which means to endure with patience. For example, saying '我忍耐这个痛苦' (I endure this pain) should be corrected to '我忍受这个痛苦'.

Write 忍受

忍
受

Practice writing 忍受 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 忍受

忍受 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 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

她无法____那种窘境,甚至于想过要辞职离开。

She couldn't bear that embarrassing situation, even to the point of thinking about resigning and leaving.

Example sentences for 忍受 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
当你从内心深处找到一种可以忍受一切痛苦的坚强力量时,你的成长历程就会出现飞跃。

dāng nǐ cóng nèixīn shēnchù zhǎodào yī zhǒng kěyǐ rěnshòu yíqiè tòngkǔ de jiānqiáng lìliàng shí, nǐ de chéngzhǎng lìchéng jiù huì chūxiàn fēiyuè。

The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt.--Max Lerner
2
你须得忍受格蕾丝心不在焉的作风。

nǐ xū de rěnshòu gé lěi sī xīnbùzàiyān de zuòfēng。

You will have to put up with Grace's absent-mindedness.
3
你将会无法忍受所遭遇的伪善和双重标准。

nǐ jiāng huì wúfǎ rěnshòu suǒ zāoyù de wěi shàn hé shuāngchóng biāozhǔn。

You'll have little patience with the hypocrisy and double standards you encounter.
4
他还简单谈及了他被俘期间忍受的孤独。

tā hái jiǎndān tánjí le tā bèi fú qījiān rěnshòu de gūdú。

He also talked briefly about the isolation he endured while in captivity.
5
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。

zhèshíhou, wǒ de xīnlǐ xiàng yǒu gè dōngxi tūrán bēng duàn le—— wǒ zàiyě rěnshòu bù le la。

Then something seemed to snap in me. I couldn't endure any more.
6
能够忍受我,我的女朋友真的很有耐心。

nénggòu rěnshòu wǒ, wǒ de nǚpéngyou zhēnde hěn yǒu nàixīn。

My girlfriend is a saint to put up with me.
7
很多人认为任何开刀手术都不堪忍受。

hěn duō rén rènwéi rènhé kāi dāo shǒushù dōu bùkān rěnshòu。

Many people find the idea of any kind of invasive surgery unbearable.
8
纽约清晨的空气会冷得让人难以忍受。

niǔ yāo qīngchén de kōngqì huì lěng de ràng rén nányǐ rěnshòu。

The early-morning New York air can be brutally cold.
9
这栋大楼外面的气味让人无法忍受——就像臭鸡蛋的味道。

zhè dòng dàlóu wàimiàn de qìwèi ràng rén wúfǎ rěnshòu—— jiù xiàng chòu jīdàn de wèidào。

The smell outside this building is overwhelming — like rotten eggs.
10
我厌恶消极态度,不能忍受唉声叹气的人。

wǒ yànwù xiāojí tàidù, bù néng rěnshòu ài shēng tànqì de rén。

I loathe negativity. I can't stand people who moan.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 忍受?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 忍受

忍受 emphasizes the act of enduring something painful or uncomfortable, while 承受 often refers to bearing a burden or responsibility.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 忍受?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab