Chinese character for patience: 忍 (rěn)
The Chinese character often used for patience is 忍 (rěn). It means to endure or bear, the kind of patience that holds back anger or pain, as in 忍耐 (rěnnài, to endure). For everyday patience, such as being patient with a child, Chinese says 耐心 (nàixīn).
How 忍 is built
忍 has 刃 (rèn), a blade, on top and 心 (xīn), the heart, below. 刃 also gives the sound. The classic image is a blade held over the heart: you stay calm and endure even when it hurts. This makes 忍 a strong symbol of self-control. 刃 itself is 刀 (knife) with an extra dot marking the cutting edge. 忍 is identical in simplified and traditional Chinese.
忍 rěn · to endure
- 刃rèn — edged tool
- 刀dāo — knife
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 丶 — dot
- 刀dāo — knife
- 心xīn — heart
How 忍 is used
Other ways to say patience
- 耐心 nàixīn — patience in everyday life; patient
- 忍耐 rěnnài — endurance, putting up with hardship
Before you use it as a tattoo or design: 忍 means endurance and holding back rather than gentle patience, so choose 耐心 if you mean calm patience.
Questions
What is the Chinese character for patience?
忍 (rěn) means “to endure”.
How do you pronounce 忍?
忍 is pronounced rěn.