耐受 (nài shòu) — to tolerate, to endure, to bear

Definition

A formal term meaning 'to tolerate / withstand' — used for pain, heat, or sustained pressure, more technical than everyday 忍受.

verb
to tolerateto endureto bear

Examples

  • 耐受。
    Tā hěn nán nài shòu zhè zhǒng téng tòng.
    He can hardly endure this kind of pain.
  • 耐受。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào néng gòu nài shòu gāo wēn.
    This material can withstand high temperatures.
  • 耐受。
    Cháng qī de yā lì ràng rén nán yǐ nài shòu.
    Long-term stress makes it hard to tolerate.

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.

耐nàiendure
受shòubear

耐, enduring, and 受, accepting, combine to mean tolerate or bear something.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
寸寸cùn
Sound part声符shēngfú
而
而ér耐nài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

耐 puts 而 on the left and 寸 on the right: 而 gives the sound, and 寸 gives the sense.

Open 耐 →

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.

Open 受 →

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