坚忍 (jiān rěn) — steadfast and persevering

Definition

Enduring hardship quietly and persistently, often from a moral or inner source. Compared with 坚强 (more about emotional resilience and not breaking down), 坚忍 emphasizes toughing it out over a long time.

adjective
steadfast and persevering

Examples

  • 坚忍，。
    Tā xìng gé jiān rěn, cóng bú fàng qì.
    He has a steadfast and persevering character and never gives up.
  • ，坚忍。
    Miàn duì kùn nan, tā yǐ jiān rěn de jīng shén jiān chí dào dǐ.
    Facing difficulties, she persisted to the end with a persevering spirit.
  • 坚忍。
    Zhǐ yǒu jiān rěn de rén cái néng shí xiàn zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng.
    Only persevering people can realize their dreams.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

坚jiānfirm
忍rěnenduring

坚 (firm) and 忍 (enduring) combine to describe steadfastness.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān堅jiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 堅 pairs 臤, giving the sound, with 土, earth, giving the sense; the simplified 坚 is a later shorthand.

Open 坚 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
刃
刃rèn忍rěn
Same sound today

忍 combines 心 (heart) and 刃 (blade). The 刃 part provides the sound, and the 心 part is the heart.

Open 忍 →

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