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坚韧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
坚韧jiānrèntough and durableHSK 7, a, 14 strokes, rank #18885, Very Hard
坚韧jiānrèntenaciousHSK 7, a, 14 strokes, rank #18885, Very Hard
jiānrèn(jian1ren4)jian ren T1
  1. 1tough and durable
  2. 2tenacious
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March 24, 2026

坚韧(堅韌)jiānrèn(jian1ren4)

坚韧 (jiān rèn) describes the quality of being tough, durable, and tenacious, often in the context of one's character or determination. It is frequently used to describe individuals who persist through challenges and maintain their strength in difficult situations.

Strokes14Frequency#18885DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, 坚韧 is often admired as a virtue, especially in the context of overcoming adversity, reflecting the historical resilience of the Chinese people through challenging times.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong, resilient tree (坚) that bends but does not break (韧) in a storm. The tree's ability to withstand harsh conditions reminds you of the word's meaning: tough and tenacious.

Meanings of 坚韧

jiānrèn(jian1ren4)
1tough and durable
2tenacious
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 坚韧

坚韧Simplified
堅韌Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#18885Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 坚韧

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Podcast: 坚韧

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AI Study Notes for 坚韧

Quick Contrast

坚强 (strong) vs 坚韧 (tough) — use 坚韧 when emphasizing persistence and durability in character, while 坚强 focuses more on overall strength.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using 坚韧 in contexts where a more casual term like 坚强 might be appropriate. While 坚韧 conveys a sense of enduring strength, 坚强 can imply simply being strong. Be mindful of the tone; 坚韧 is more formal and often used in literature or speeches.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 坚韧 connects well with other advanced terms that describe characteristics or qualities. Focus on using it in sentences that reflect personal resilience or perseverance, enhancing your ability to express complex ideas.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 坚韧 with 坚强, using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '她的性格很坚强' (Her personality is very tough) is correct, but if you want to emphasize endurance through hardship, you should say '她的性格很坚韧' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 坚韧

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Component Characters

坚jiānstrong
7 strokes土
View full entry
韧rènannealed
7 strokes韦
View full entry

How to say tough and durable in Chinese

“tough and durable” in Chinese is坚韧jiānrèn

坚韧 (jiān rèn) describes the quality of being tough, durable, and tenacious, often in the context of one's character or determination. It is frequently used to describe individuals who persist through challenges and maintain their strength in difficult situations.

When to use 坚韧

Common mistakes include using 坚韧 in contexts where a more casual term like 坚强 might be appropriate. While 坚韧 conveys a sense of enduring strength, 坚强 can imply simply being strong. Be mindful of the tone; 坚韧 is more formal and often used in literature or speeches.

坚韧 or something close to it

坚强 (strong) vs 坚韧 (tough) — use 坚韧 when emphasizing persistence and durability in character, while 坚强 focuses more on overall strength.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 坚韧 with 坚强, using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '她的性格很坚强' (Her personality is very tough) is correct, but if you want to emphasize endurance through hardship, you should say '她的性格很坚韧' instead.

Write 坚韧

坚
韧

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

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Grammar Patterns of 坚韧

坚韧 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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 3

Fill the gap

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

他又高又瘦, 皮肤____, 饱受风霜,而且强健有力.

He was rangy, leathery, sun - baked and virile.

Example Sentences for 坚韧 (2)

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1
他又高又瘦, 皮肤坚韧, 饱受风霜,而且强健有力.

tā yòu gāo yòu shòu, pífū jiānrèn, bǎo shòu fēng shuāng, érqiě jiàng jiàn yǒulì.

He was rangy, leathery, sun - baked and virile.
2
坚韧是通向成功的桥.

jiānrèn shì tōng xiàng chénggōng de qiáo.

Tenacity is the bridge to success.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 坚韧

You can say, '他在困难面前表现出坚韧的精神' (He showed a tenacious spirit in the face of difficulties).

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