How to say "bear" in Japanese

• 耐えるたえるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verb, transitive verbThis is 'bear' as in enduring something painful or unpleasant: you bear the pain, the heat, or the situation. It matches 'stand' and 'put up with' rather than carrying anything.
  あの騒音そうおんには耐たえられないよ。↗

  I can not stand that noise.
• 熊くまCommon
  nounThis is the noun: the animal, any mammal of the bear family. If 'bear' names the creature rather than an action, this is the word you want.
  ベンジャミンはライフルでクマを撃うった。↗

  Benjamin shot a bear with a rifle.
• 生むうむJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThis is 'bear' in the sense of giving birth: to bear a child, or, with animals, to lay eggs. Use it whenever 'bear' means bringing a child into the world.
• 負うおうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verb'Bear' as in carrying a weight: literally, carrying something on one's back; figuratively, bearing or shouldering a burden or responsibility. It overlaps with 担う, the image being the back rather than the shoulder.
  負おうた子こに教おしえられて浅瀬あさせを渡わたる。↗

  A child on your back may guide you across a ford.
• 担うになうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbAlso 'bear' in the carrying sense: literally to carry on one's shoulder, figuratively to shoulder or bear a duty or responsibility. It overlaps with 負う, with the shoulder as the image.

Use 熊 for the animal, 「生む」 for bearing a child, 「耐える」 for enduring hardship, and 「負う」 or 「担う」 for bearing or shouldering burdens and responsibilities.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 耐えるたえるto bear
• 熊くまbear (any mammal of family Ursidae)
• 生むうむto give birth
• 負うおうto carry on one's back
• 担うになうto carry on one's shoulder
• 帯びるおびるto wear (a sword, decoration, etc.)
• 携えるたずさえるto carry in one's hand
• 持っていくもっていくto take (something) along
• たまるto bear
• こらえるto bear
• ベアbear
• 産するさんするto bear (a child)
• 肩に担ぐかたにかつぐto bear
• 産すさんすto bear (a child)
• 耐えきれるたえきれるto bear
• 付くつくto bear (fruit, interest, etc.)
• かぶるto bear (e.g. someone's debts, faults, etc.)
• 結ぶむすぶto bear (fruit)
• 着るきるto take (the blame, responsibility)
• 生み出すうみだすto give birth to
• 受け付けるうけつけるto (be able to) take (food, medicine, etc.)
• 忍ぶしのぶto endure
• 抱くいだくto have (a thought or feeling)
• 持ち合うもちあうto share (e.g. the expense)
• おくto place (one's trust, one's faith, etc.)
• なんぱbearish trader
• 挙げるあげるto have (a child)