受得了 (shòu dé liǎo) — able to stand, can endure

Definition

A colloquial ‘able to stand/endure’, usually in questions or with negations like 受不了 (‘can’t take it’). Pairs with 忍, which focuses more on patient forbearance.

verb
able to standcan endure

Examples

  • ，受得了。
    Zhè me rè de tiān qì, zhǐ yǒu tā néng shòu dé liǎo.
    In such hot weather, only he can stand it.
  • 受得了。
    Tā shòu dé liǎo le shī qù qīn rén de tòng kǔ.
    She endured the pain of losing a loved one.
  • 受得了。
    Méi yǒu rén shòu dé liǎo tā nà zhǒng huài pí qi.
    No one can put up with that kind of bad temper of his.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

受 possibly combines 爪 and 又 as hands with 舟 as a boat, to show handing something over.

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Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

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