我慢
gaman[ɡa̠mã̠ɴ]
The English word patience can be translated into Japanese using several forms, most commonly 我慢 (gaman). Wiktionary also lists 辛抱 (shinbō) and 忍耐 (nintai).
Meaning: quality of being patient (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 我慢 | gaman | [ɡa̠mã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 辛抱 | shinbō | [ɕĩmbo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 忍耐 | nintai | [ɲ̟ĩnta̠i] (narrow) |
These terms describe the quality of being patient or the act of enduring something.
Which one should you use?
辛抱 (shinbō) often implies a sense of bearing with a specific, difficult or painful hardship through perseverance. In contrast, 忍耐 (nintai) is a more formal, academic or literary term used to emphasize the virtue of perseverance and enduring hardship with stoicism.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of being patient or enduring something, you can use the verb form 我慢する (gaman suru). If you want to describe someone as being 'patient' using an adjective, use the form 我慢強い (gaman-tsuyoi), which literally means 'strong in patience'.
How do you pronounce it?
gaman
Did you know?
- While 忍耐 (nintai) is formal, it shares the same root character as the word for 'ninja', reflecting the ideal of silent endurance and hidden strength.
- The word 我慢 (gaman) originally comes from Buddhist terminology, where it referred to the 'pride' or 'ego' that one must overcome through patience.
- In Japanese culture, the concept of 我慢 is often viewed as a social virtue, where one endures discomfort to maintain harmony within a group.
Examples in context
- 辛抱できないよ。I have no patience.This sentence uses the form 辛抱 to express a lack of patience.Tatoeba #9187879 by bunbuku, translation #281982 by CK
- もう少しの辛抱だ。Just a little more patience.This sentence uses the form 辛抱 to encourage a small amount of more patience.Tatoeba #194132 by small_snow, translation #31299 by Dejo
- トムは我慢強いよ。Tom has a lot of patience.This sentence uses the form 我慢 to describe someone as having a lot of patience.Tatoeba #11480943 by bunbuku, translation #1025476 by CK
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a cafe, waiting for a slow waiter.
- 美咲 Misakiもう少し我慢しよう。Mou sukoshi gaman shiyou.Let's be patient a little longer.
- 大翔 Hirotoもう我慢できないよ。Mou gaman dekinai yo.I can't be patient anymore.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くんはいつもせっかちだね。Hiroto-kun wa itsumo sekkachi dane.Hiroto, you are always so impatient.
- 大翔 Hirotoごめん、お腹が空いているんだ。Gomen, onaka ga suite irun da.Sorry, I'm just hungry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “patience” translations and entries 我慢, 辛抱, 忍耐, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
