Definition

1. Verb:
   • To endure, to tolerate, to bear: To accept or withstand something unpleasant, painful, or difficult without complaining or fighting back.
   • To go without, to abstain from, to forgo: To deliberately refrain from satisfying a need or desire, especially for food, drink, or other comforts.
   • To suppress, to hold back: To restrain or prevent a natural impulse or reaction, such as laughter, tears, or anger.

Usage Examples

• To endure/tolerate:
  • Bị đánh mà chịu nhịn à? (Are you going to endure being beaten?)
  • Họ phải nhịn sự bất công. (They have to tolerate the injustice.)
• To go without/abstain from:
  • Nhịn ăn để giảm cân. (To go without food to lose weight.)
  • Anh ấy đang nhịn thuốc lá. (He is abstaining from smoking.)
• To suppress/hold back:
  • Cô ấy nhịn cười khi nghe câu chuyện hài. (She suppressed a laugh when she heard the funny story.)
  • Đứa trẻ nhịn khóc rất tội nghiệp. (The child held back tears, which was very pitiful.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nhịn nhục": To endure humiliation or suffering patiently and silently. This is a compound word combining "nhịn" and "nhục" (humiliation).
  • Phải biết nhịn nhục trong một số tình huống. (One must know how to endure humiliation in some situations.)
• "Nhịn đói": To go hungry, to starve. This is a compound word combining "nhịn" and "đói" (hungry).
  • Người nghèo đôi khi phải nhịn đói. (The poor sometimes have to go hungry.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chịu đựng (verb): To endure, to bear. A close synonym, often used in more formal contexts.
  • Chịu đựng đau đớn. (To endure pain.)
• Kiêng (verb): To abstain from, to avoid (often for health, religious, or superstitious reasons). While similar to "nhịn" in the context of abstaining, "kiêng" implies a rule or prohibition.
  • Kiêng thịt bò khi bị ngứa. (To abstain from beef when having an itch.)
• Kìm nén (verb): To restrain, to suppress (emotions, feelings). Similar to the "suppress" meaning of "nhịn".
  • Kìm nén cơn giận. (To suppress anger.)

Synonyms

• Chịu (verb): To bear, to accept (often unwillingly).
• Cam chịu (verb): To resign oneself to, to accept passively.
• Nhẫn (verb - literary/formal): To endure, to be patient (often found in compounds like "nhẫn nại" - patience).

Related Phrases (Verb + Object Combinations)

• Nhịn ăn: To fast, to go without food.
• Nhịn uống: To go without drinking.
• Nhịn mặc: To go without proper clothing, to stint oneself of clothing.
• Nhịn cười: To hold back laughter.
• Nhịn khóc: To hold back tears.
• Nhịn giận: To hold back anger.
• Nhịn đau: To bear pain.

Related Idioms

• "Nhịn đói nằm co hơn no vác nặng": (Proverb) It's better to go hungry and rest than to be full and carry heavy loads. Implies that peace of mind is better than stressful abundance.
• "Một điều nhịn, chín điều lành": (Proverb) Forbearance in one matter brings nine good things. Similar to "turn the other cheek" or the idea that patience brings rewards.

1. Endure
   • Bị đánh mà chịu nhịn à?
     Are you going to endure being beaten?
2. Go without, suppress
   • Nhịn ăn
     To go without food
   • Nhịn thuốc lá
     To go without tobaco
   • Nhịn mặc
     To go without clothes, to stint oneself of clothing
   • Nhịn cười
     To suppress a laugh