忍 means “endure, stealth”

にん · nin

Also: bear, put up with, conceal

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

しのぶ, しのばせる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ニン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 7 strokes

The story

A blade (刃) held over the heart (心): bearing the pain without a sound. 忍 is endurance and stealth at once: 忍耐 is patience, and a 忍者 lives by 忍ぶ, which means both to put up with and to slip by unseen.

Used in 忍者 (ninja, ninja), 忍耐 (nintai, patience/endurance), and 忍ぶ (shinobu, to endure/to hide)

More from Grit & Resolve

• 挫 setback
• 堪 hold back
• 諦 give up
• 志 aspiration
• 徹 thorough
• 貫 pierce
• 頑 stubborn
• 耐 withstand
• 克 overcome
• 遂 accomplish
• 誓 vow

Learn 忍 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.