rěn

to endure

HSK 4

Evolution

忍 in bronze script
Bronze · ~800 BCE
忍 in seal script
Seal Script · ~200 BCE
Modern
folk etymology

A blade (刃) held over a heart (心). Patience isn't passive — it's the active choice to not let the knife drop. The seal script form is visceral: you can see the blade edge pressing down on the heart below.

Components

刀 ancient form
blade
心 ancient form
heart

Related Characters

Further Reading

25 Characters With Wild EtymologiesGuide

Appears in Stories