堪
withstand, endure, support, resist
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
- タン
Kun'yomi
- た.える
- たま.る
- こら.える
- こた.える
Meaning
堪 centers on holding firm under pressure: withstanding hardship, enduring pain, supporting a burden, or resisting an urge. The meanings all share the idea of bearing up without breaking.
Most common words using 堪
20 of 26- 堪らないたまらないN3
intolerable; unbearable; unendurable
- 堪能たんのうN1
proficient; skilled; skillful; good; accomplished
- 堪えるこらえるN2
to bear; to stand; to endure; to put up with
- 堪るたまる
to bear; to endure
- 堪忍袋かんにんぶくろ
one's store of patience
- 堪忍かんにん
patience; forbearance; endurance; tolerance
- ならぬ堪忍するが堪忍ならぬかんにんするがかんにん
to endure what is unendurable is true endurance
- 不堪ふかん
incompetence
- 仕事に堪えるしごとにたえる
to be fit for work
- 任に堪えるにんにたえる
to be equal to the task; to be up to the job; to be capable of filling the post
- 堪えないたえない
unable to suppress one's emotions
- 堪えられないこたえられない
really good; irresistible
- 堪え兼ねるたえかねる
to be unable to endure; to be unable to stand (something); to lose patience
- 堪ったものじゃないたまったものじゃない
intolerable; unbearable; unendurable
- 堪ったものではないたまったものではない
intolerable; unbearable; unendurable
- 堪ったもんじゃないたまったもんじゃない
intolerable; unbearable; unendurable
- 堪ったもんではないたまったもんではない
intolerable; unbearable; unendurable
- 堪まるかたまるか
like hell I'll ...; I'm not about to ...
- 堪らんたまらん
intolerable; unbearable; unendurable
- 堪り兼ねるたまりかねる
to be unable to bear (something) any longer; to be unable to put up with
Study
Etymology
堪 combines 土 (earth) with 甚, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of extreme or excessive. The compound suggests the earth's capacity to bear weight, extended to enduring or withstanding.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is earth 土, and the right side 甚 suggests something extreme. Picture the earth supporting a massive, extreme weight without crumbling: it withstands, endures, and resists.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, imagine a can of food enduring a heavy load on top of it: can -> カン, and the can withstands the pressure just like 堪.