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耐

Mandarin · pinyin nài

(bound form) to bear; to endure; to withstand

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耐: nài · endure, bear; resist; patient

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4 · nai4

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Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Rime Cantonese 粵拼

nang4 · noi6

Cantonese word readings for 耐. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

to be durable; to be able to withstand
to bear; to endure
(Cantonese, Southern Pinghua, of time) long; taking a long time to happen
(literary) to be worth; to merit; to deserve; to be worthy of
(literary) suitable; appropriate
(literary) an ancient punishment involving shaving one's beard and temples

character · Etymology 2

(alt-of, alternative) alternative form of 能 (“to be able to”)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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