耐えます（たえます、taemasu）
- to endure

The Japanese verb 耐えます (たえます) means "to endure," "to bear," "to withstand," or "to put up with." It implies the ability to remain calm and composed in the face of difficulty, hardship, pain, or pressure. It suggests a sustained effort to cope with something challenging. The subject of 耐えます is the one doing the enduring. ⚫︎ It can refer to physical endurance, like enduring pain. ⚫︎ It can refer to emotional or mental endurance, such as tolerating a difficult situation. ⚫︎ It often conveys a sense of perseverance and resilience. ⚫︎ The word also suggests that the subject is not necessarily enjoying the situation, but is managing to get through it.

⚫︎ 痛みに耐えます Translation: To endure pain. ⚫︎ 困難に耐えます Translation: To endure difficulties. ⚫︎ プレッシャーに耐えます Translation: To withstand pressure.

耐えます is used in formal and polite situations, and is often used in writing. It is a slightly more formal way of expressing endurance than some other verbs. ⚫︎ You would use it when discussing enduring something unpleasant or difficult. ⚫︎ It is appropriate when talking about challenges that someone overcomes, or situations where one shows strength and perseverance. ⚫︎ You can use it in a wide variety of contexts where endurance is the main point.

耐えます is written with the kanji 耐 (たい) meaning "to endure," "to bear," or "to withstand," and the hiragana えます which is the conjugation of the verb. ⚫︎ The kanji 耐 can also be used in compounds like 耐久性 (たいきゅうせい - durability). ⚫︎ The base form of the verb is 耐える (たえる). ⚫︎ The masu-stem (polite form) is 耐え (tae). ⚫︎ The て-form is 耐えて (taete). ⚫︎ The negative form is 耐えません (taemasen). ⚫︎ The past tense is 耐えました (taemashita). ⚫︎ The casual form is 耐える (taeru). ⚫︎ The casual negative form is 耐えない (taenai).

⚫︎ 我慢します (がまんします - to endure, to be patient) - a more common and widely used verb. ⚫︎ 忍びます (しのびます - to endure, to bear, to put up with) - a more literary and nuanced term. ⚫︎ 持ちこたえます (もちこたえます - to hold out, to withstand) - focuses on withstanding a challenging period. ⚫︎ 堪えます (こらえます - to endure, to bear) - similar to 耐えます.

⚫︎ 諦めます (あきらめます - to give up) - the opposite of enduring or persevering. ⚫︎ 弱ります (よわります - to weaken, to be troubled) - to become unable to endure. ⚫︎ 負けます (まけます - to lose) - to be defeated by something (figuratively, as in not being able to withstand it).

彼は苦痛に耐えましたが、決して諦めませんでした。 ・Translation: He endured the pain, but he never gave up. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates 耐えました in the past tense, showing someone's resilience in the face of pain and their determination to continue.

試験のプレッシャーに耐え、彼は合格しました。 ・Translation: Enduring the pressure of the exam, he passed. ・Explanation: This sentence shows 耐え in the stem form, used in a conjunctive way, connecting the action of enduring with the result of passing the exam.

The kanji 耐 is composed of the components 而 (し, and, then) and 寸 (すん, a unit of length). 而 originally meant "beard." The meaning evolved to relate to "bear, endure," suggesting a way of enduring the face of difficulty.