Proverb / Kotowaza
隠忍自重
Patiently enduring suffering or difficulty while refraining from acting rashly or impulsively.
to endure hardship in silence and exercise prudent self-restraint
Quick Answer
Patiently enduring suffering or difficulty while refraining from acting rashly or impulsively.
- Literal Image
- to endure hardship in silence and exercise prudent self-restraint
- How to Use It
- Used to describe someone who is bearing unfair treatment or hardship and chooses to remain discreet and careful instead of reacting emotionally or hastily.
Meaning
The act of suppressing one's emotions and enduring pain or difficulty while carefully controlling one's behavior. It emphasizes the importance of staying calm and prudent during trials, waiting for the right moment rather than making hasty decisions.
Literal Image
to endure hardship in silence and exercise prudent self-restraint
How to Use It
Used to describe someone who is bearing unfair treatment or hardship and chooses to remain discreet and careful instead of reacting emotionally or hastily.
Tone
Formal and serious.
Examples
今は反論したい気持ちを抑え、隠忍自重すべき時だ。
Now is the time to suppress the urge to argue back and exercise patient self-restraint.
不当な扱いに耐え、隠忍自重して再起のチャンスを待った。
After enduring unfair treatment with patient self-restraint, I waited for an opportunity to make a comeback.
隠忍自重の末に、ようやく彼の努力が認められた。
After a long period of patient self-restraint, his efforts were finally recognized.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
This is a four-character idiom (yojijukugo) consisting of less basic kanji and formal vocabulary.
隠忍
いんにん / innin
enduring patiently
自重
じちょう / jicho
self-restraint; prudence
軽率
けいそつ / keisotsu
rash; thoughtless
慎む
つつしむ / tsutsushimu
to refrain from; to be discreet
Usage Profile
Usage note: Using this in very casual settings might sound overly stiff.
Misread Risk
This implies a disciplined choice to wait for a better opportunity, not just passive resignation.
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Related Proverbs
Meaning of the Characters
The term 'innin' (隠忍) refers to enduring hardship patiently, while 'jicho' (自重) refers to being prudent and careful in one's actions.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.