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耐 (nài) — to bear; to endure; to withstand

Definition

耐 focuses on lasting through stress without breaking — used for durable objects, harsh conditions, or repeated tests. 忍/忍受/忍耐 are about mentally putting up with pain or hardship.

verb
to bearto endureto withstand

Examples

  • 耐，。
    Zhè zhǒng xié hěn nài chuān, néng chuān hǎo jǐ nián.
    This kind of shoe is very durable and can last for years.
  • 耐。
    Tā nài dé zhù jí duān huán jìng de kǎo yàn.
    He can withstand the test of extreme environment.
  • 耐。
    Zhè ge shí yàn xū yào nài dé zhù fǎn fù cè shì.
    This experiment needs to withstand repeated testing.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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