耐 meaning and stroke order
(bound form) to bear; to endure; to withstand
How to write 耐, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 耐
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to bear; to endure; to withstand
How 耐 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 而 (and), shared by 4 characters on this site.
How to remember 耐
耐 has 而 (ér) on the left and 寸 (cùn), a hand or small measure, on the right. Picture a hand holding on bit by bit, inch by inch, to show how you bear and endure something.
耐 is a bound form, so it usually appears inside words like 耐心 (nàixīn, patience), 忍耐 (rěnnài, to endure) and 不耐烦 (bù nàifán, impatient). It also forms adjectives meaning "resistant to," as in 耐热 (nàirè, heat-resistant). Example: 请你耐心一点。(Qǐng nǐ nàixīn yīdiǎn.) Please be a little more patient.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write the right side as 寺 or forget the dot in 寸. They also confuse 耐 with 而 (ér), because the left part looks the same. In 能耐 (néngnai) the second syllable is neutral tone, unlike the fourth tone nài elsewhere.
Common words with 耐
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 耐心 | nàixīn | to be patient; patience | HSK 5 |
| 不耐烦 | bù nàifán | impatient; to lose patience | HSK 5 |
| 忍耐 | rěnnài | to endure; to put up with; to exercise patience | HSK 7-9 |
| 能耐 | néngnai | ability; capability | HSK 7-9 |
| 耐性 | nàixìng | patience | HSK 7-9 |
| 耐人寻味 | nàirénxúnwèi | (idiom) thought-provoking; to provide food for thought | HSK 7-9 |
| 耐力 | nàilì | endurance |
耐 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 耐
How many strokes are in 耐?
耐 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 耐 mean?
耐 (nài) means (bound form) to bear; to endure; to withstand. A common word with it is 耐心 (nàixīn), meaning "to be patient; patience".
How do you pronounce 耐?
耐 is pronounced nài, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 耐?
The radical of 耐 is 而, which carries the idea of "and". Dictionaries list 耐 under this radical.
Is 耐 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 耐 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 耐心 and 耐性?
Both mean patience. 耐心 is far more common and can be used as an adjective, as in 很耐心 (hěn nàixīn, very patient). 耐性 is a noun that describes a person's natural staying power, as in 没有耐性 (méiyǒu nàixìng, to have no patience).
Is 能耐 a compliment?
It can be. 他很有能耐 (tā hěn yǒu néngnai) means he is very capable. In the wrong tone it can sound sarcastic, as in 你有什么能耐 (nǐ yǒu shénme néngnai), which means "what can you possibly do?"