How to say "endure" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 耐えるたえるichidan verb, intransitive verb, transitive verbCovers enduring physical pain, hardship, or difficulty; the core verb for bearing something you must put up with. Typical when a person withstands suffering, pressure, or tough conditions.
- 凌ぐしのぐgodan verb, transitive verbEndures by keeping something at bay — staving off starvation, keeping out rain, getting through a crisis by struggling or coping. Nuance of narrowly managing to survive a threat, not merely tolerating it.
- 持ちこたえるもちこたえるichidan verb, transitive verbEndures in the sense of holding out or hanging on against an attack, pressure, or strain. Used for a person, army, structure, or system that withstands something long enough without collapsing.
- 保つたもつgodan verb, intransitive verbEndures here only in the sense of lasting: food keeps well, clothes wear well, a state holds. When you want to say a person endures hardship, this is seldom the word you want — it is really about things keeping or lasting.
- 忍ぶしのぶgodan verb, transitive verbEndures pain, grief, or hardship, closely matching 耐える in bearing or putting up with suffering. The nuance leans toward quietly suppressing or concealing one's feelings while enduring.
Use 「耐える」 or 「忍ぶ」 for bearing pain and hardship, 「凌ぐ」 for struggling through a crisis like hunger or bad weather, 「持ちこたえる」 for holding out under attack or pressure, and 「保つ」 when something lasts or keeps well.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 耐えるたえるto bear
- 凌ぐしのぐto endure
- 持ちこたえるもちこたえるto hold out (e.g. against an attack)
- たまるto bear
- こらえるto bear
- 耐え忍ぶたえしのぶto put up with
- 耐えきれるたえきれるto bear
- 耐えしのぐたえしのぐto put up with
- 踏みこたえるふみこたえるto hold out (against)
- 保つたもつto last
- 忍ぶしのぶto endure
- 持てるもてるto endure (the tests of time, the elements, etc.)
- 受け付けるうけつけるto (be able to) take (food, medicine, etc.)
- 腹を据えるはらをすえるto calm oneself
See also
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