忍

The Chinese character 忍 (rěn) is composed of two parts: the radical 心 (xīn), which means "heart" or "mind", and the phonetic component 刃 (rèn), which means "blade" or "knife". The combination of these two components suggests the idea of "enduring" or "tolerating" something difficult or painful.The original meaning of 忍 was "to bear" or "to endure". In ancient Chinese, it was often used in the context of physical pain or hardship. For example, the phrase 忍饥挨饿 (rěn jī āi è) means "to endure hunger and cold".Over time, the meaning of 忍 expanded to include emotional and mental suffering as well. It can now be used to describe the ability to tolerate difficult situations, to remain calm under pressure, or to forgive someone who has wronged you. For example, the phrase 忍辱负重 (rěn rǔ fù zhòng) means "to bear humiliation and carry a heavy burden".The character 忍 is also used in the sense of "to refrain from" or "to resist". For example, the phrase 忍住眼泪 (rěn zhù yǎn lèi) means "to hold back tears".In modern Chinese, 忍 is a commonly used character. It is found in a wide variety of contexts, from everyday conversation to formal writing. It is an important character to learn for anyone who wants to communicate effectively in Chinese.