忍让 (rěn ràng) — to be forbearing, to tolerate and yield (to maintain harmony)

Definition

A verb meaning to patiently tolerate and yield to others, often to keep peace. 容忍 is a broader 'tolerate' (can be of things/people); 忍让 emphasizes stepping back in a conflict.

verb
to be forbearingto tolerate and yield (to maintain harmony)

Examples

  • 忍让，。
    Fū qī zhī jiān xū yào hù xiāng rěn ràng, cái néng cháng jiǔ xiāng chǔ.
    Husband and wife need to be forbearing with each other to get along long-term.
  • ，忍让。
    Tā xìng gé wēn hé, zǒng shì rěn ràng bié rén.
    He has a gentle personality and always yields to others.
  • ，忍让。
    Zài tán pàn zhōng, shì dàng de rěn ràng yǒu shí néng huàn lái gèng dà de lì yì.
    In negotiations, appropriate forbearance can sometimes bring greater benefits.

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.

忍rěntolerate
让ràngyield

Tolerate and yield combine to mean conciliatory forbearance.

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
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 →

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 讓; 让 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
襄
襄xiāng讓ràng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 讓 combines 言, showing speech, with 襄, giving the sound; the evidence links it to criticizing or reproaching. The simplified 让 is a later shorthand.

Open 让 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.