Definition

1. Verb:
   • To contain oneself: To consciously hold back or restrain one's emotions, reactions, or impulses, especially when provoked.
   • To endure / to bear patiently: To tolerate a difficult situation or someone's behavior without complaining or reacting negatively.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tôi phải nín nhịn để không nổi giận. (I had to contain myself to not get angry.)
  • Cô ấy nín nhịn mọi lời chỉ trích. (She endured all the criticism.)
  • Để giữ hòa khí, anh ấy đã nín nhịn. (To keep the peace, he restrained himself.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a prolonged or repeated effort of self-control in the face of ongoing irritation or hardship.
  • Nín nhịn lâu ngày có thể dẫn đến bùng nổ. (Enduring for a long time can lead to an explosion [of emotion].)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhẫn nhịn (v): To be patient and forbearing, often with a connotation of passive, long-suffering endurance.
  • Bà ấy nhẫn nhịn suốt cuộc hôn nhân. (She was forbearing throughout her marriage.)

Synonyms

• Restrain oneself: To hold oneself back from action.
• Endure: To suffer patiently.
• Tolerate: To allow something undesirable to exist or happen without interference.
• Bear: To accept or carry something unpleasant.

Related Idioms

• Nín nhịn chịu đựng: To endure and put up with (something).

  • Không thể mãi nín nhịn chịu đựng sự bất công. (One cannot forever endure injustice.)

• Nín nhịn cho qua: To restrain oneself to let something pass.

  • Tôi chỉ nín nhịn cho câu chuyện qua đi. (I just contained myself to let the matter pass.)

1. Contain oneself