耐える · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 耐える | 耐えない |
| Polite | 耐えます | 耐えません |
| Past polite | 耐えました | 耐えませんでした |
| Past | 耐えた | 耐えなかった |
| Te-form | 耐えて | 耐えないで |
| Desire | 耐えたい | 耐えたくない |
| Potential | 耐えられるalso 耐えれる | 耐えられないalso 耐えれない |
| Passive | 耐えられる | 耐えられない |
| Causative | 耐えさせる | 耐えさせない |
| Causative passive | 耐えさせられる | 耐えさせられない |
| Volitional | 耐えよう | |
| Polite volitional | 耐えましょう | |
| Imperative | 耐えろ | 耐えるな |
| Conditional | 耐えれば | 耐えなければ |
| Tara conditional | 耐えたら | 耐えなかったら |
ichidan verb, intransitive verb, transitive verb
Enduring something unpleasant or difficult: pain, hardship, boredom, or an undesirable situation. Often used with に.
He couldn't bear the pain.
I can't stand this heat anymore.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
withstand; resist; stand up to
Withstanding external force, pressure, or harsh conditions; also used for resisting temptation or an attack. Often used with に.
This bridge is designed to withstand strong earthquakes.
He resisted the temptation and didn't eat the sweets.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
be worthy of; be equal to; deserve
Used in the pattern 〜に耐える to mean something is worthy of a certain evaluation, status, or treatment. Often appears in formal or literary contexts.
This work has a level of perfection that can stand up to criticism.
His actions are worthy of praise.
He endured the intense pain.
This bridge is designed to withstand the weight of large trucks.
The castle withstood a prolonged siege.
This novel is a masterpiece that stands up to the criticism of the times.
持ちこたえる means to hold out or hold up under strain (often physical or structural), whereas 耐える is broader and covers emotional, physical, or evaluative endurance.
耐える is more passive, focusing on bearing pain or hardship without necessarily overcoming it, while 凌ぐ implies actively fighting off or getting through something.
耐える is the common verb for enduring hardship or pain, while 堪る is rare and almost only appears as たまらない, meaning something is unbearable.
耐える is the common, neutral verb for enduring hardship, while 忍ぶ adds a literary, quietly patient nuance to the same idea of endurance.
耐える focuses on withstanding hardship or pressure over time and is often intransitive, while 堪える is transitive and describes actively holding back a specific feeling or urge.
耐える describes passively enduring pain or hardship, whereas 踏ん張る implies an active, forceful stance of refusing to give way.
耐える means simply to endure or bear something without necessarily resolving it, while 乗り切る implies successfully getting all the way through to the other side.
絶える (also read たえる) means to cease or die out, a completely different meaning from 耐える, which means to endure or withstand; the two are easily confused because they share a reading.