耐心

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 耐心 (nàixīn) for "patience" is composed of two characters: 耐 (nài) and 心 (xīn). 耐 originally meant "to bear" or "to endure," and it is often used in the context of physical or mental hardship. 心, on the other hand, means "heart" or "mind," and it is often used to refer to one's inner thoughts and feelings. When these two characters are combined, they create the word 耐心, which literally means "to endure with one's heart." This captures the essence of patience, which requires both physical and mental strength to withstand difficult situations.