chéngshòu: 承受 - To Bear, Endure, Withstand

• Keywords: chengshou, 承受, bear in Chinese, endure in Chinese, withstand pressure, Chinese word for hardship, Chinese resilience, bear responsibility, take criticism Chinese, chengshou vs renshou, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the deep meaning of 承受 (chéngshòu), a fundamental Chinese verb for “to bear,” “endure,” or “withstand.” This page breaks down how to use `承受` to talk about bearing physical weight, enduring emotional pressure, and taking on responsibility. Discover its cultural significance related to resilience and perseverance, and understand how it differs from similar words like `忍受 (rěnshòu)` and `接受 (jiēshòu)`. Perfect for HSK 5 students and anyone wanting to grasp a core concept in Chinese thought.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chéngshòu
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To bear, endure, withstand, or support a physical or abstract burden.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a pillar holding up the roof of a temple. That pillar is `承受`-ing the weight. Now, apply that same idea to people. `承受` is about holding up under a heavy load, whether it's the literal weight of an object, the emotional weight of grief, the mental weight of stress (`压力`), or the social weight of criticism. It implies a capacity to withstand something difficult that is imposed from the outside.

• 承 (chéng): This character can mean “to bear,” “to receive,” or “to continue.” Pictorially, it originally depicted a person on their knees receiving an order or object from a superior. This captures the idea of taking something on.
• 受 (shòu): This character means “to receive,” “to accept,” or “to suffer.” It depicts one hand giving something to another, emphasizing the act of reception, often passively.
• When combined, 承受 (chéngshòu) creates a powerful, formal term. The doubling of the “receiving” concept (`承` + `受`) reinforces the idea of taking on a significant, often difficult, external force or burden and having the capacity to hold it.

`承受` is deeply tied to the Chinese cultural value of resilience and perseverance, often encapsulated in the idiom 吃苦耐劳 (chī kǔ nài láo), which means “to be able to eat bitterness and endure hard work.” The ability to `承受` immense pressure, hardship, or suffering without complaint is traditionally seen as a sign of great strength, maturity, and virtue. In a Western cultural context, especially American culture, there is often an emphasis on vocalizing struggle, seeking external help, or actively changing one's circumstances to eliminate a burden. While this also happens in China, there is a stronger underlying cultural expectation to quietly `承受` one's burdens, particularly in the context of family, work, or societal duty. Admitting you 承受不了 (chéngshòu bùliǎo), or “cannot bear it,” can sometimes be seen as a sign of weakness or may lead to a loss of face (面子, miànzi), as it shows you lack the capacity to fulfill your role. This value highlights a more collectivist mindset, where individual endurance contributes to the stability of the group.

`承受` is a versatile and common word, though it carries a slightly formal tone. It's used frequently in news, formal discussions, and serious conversations.

• Emotional & Psychological Pressure: This is one of the most common uses. People `承受` stress (`压力`), pain (`痛苦`), and loneliness (`孤独`).
  • e.g., 现在的年轻人需要承受很大的工作压力。 (Today's young people need to bear a lot of work pressure.)
• Physical & Structural Force: Used for inanimate objects bearing weight or force.
  • e.g., 这座桥能承受多大的重量？ (How much weight can this bridge withstand?)
• Financial & Economic: Used in business and finance to talk about bearing costs or losses.
  • e.g., 公司必须承受这次投资的损失。 (The company must bear the losses from this investment.)
• Social & Relational: Used for taking on criticism, blame, or consequences.
  • e.g., 作为领导，他必须承受所有的批评。 (As a leader, he must take all the criticism.)

The connotation is generally neutral to slightly negative, as the object being “borne” is almost always something difficult or undesirable.

• Example 1:
  • 他默默地承受着家庭的重担。
  • Pinyin: Tā mòmò de chéngshòu zhe jiātíng de zhòngdàn.
  • English: He silently bears the heavy burden of his family.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example showing the cultural value of quiet endurance. `重担 (zhòngdàn)` means “heavy burden,” a perfect object for `承受`.
• Example 2:
  • 我真的承受不了这么大的压力了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn de chéngshòu buliǎo zhème dà de yālì le.
  • English: I really can't bear this much pressure anymore.
  • Analysis: `承受不了 (chéngshòu bùliǎo)` is a very common phrase to express that one has reached their limit. `不了 (bùliǎo)` is a potential complement that indicates an inability to complete the action.
• Example 3:
  • 这座古老的建筑已经无法承受任何地震。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zuò gǔlǎo de jiànzhù yǐjīng wúfǎ chéngshòu rènhé dìzhèn.
  • English: This ancient building can no longer withstand any earthquake.
  • Analysis: Here, `承受` is used in its literal, physical sense. `无法 (wúfǎ)` is a formal way of saying “cannot,” which matches the formal tone of `承受`.
• Example 4:
  • 你必须学会承受失败带来的痛苦。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū xuéhuì chéngshòu shībài dàilái de tòngkǔ.
  • English: You must learn to endure the pain that comes with failure.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames `承受` as a skill to be learned, highlighting the theme of personal growth through hardship.
• Example 5:
  • 任何人都应该为自己的行为承受后果。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé rén dōu yīnggāi wèi zìjǐ de xíngwéi chéngshòu hòuguǒ.
  • English: Everyone should bear the consequences of their own actions.
  • Analysis: This shows `承受` used in the context of responsibility and accountability. The object is `后果 (hòuguǒ)`, “consequences.”
• Example 6:
  • 我们的服务器可以承受每秒百万次的访问。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de fúwùqì kěyǐ chéngshòu měi miǎo bǎiwàn cì de fǎngwèn.
  • English: Our servers can handle one million visits per second.
  • Analysis: A modern, technical usage. Here, “bear” or “handle” refers to capacity and performance, similar to withstanding a physical force.
• Example 7:
  • 她独自一人承受了所有的非议。
  • Pinyin: Tā dúzì yīrén chéngshòu le suǒyǒu de fēiyì.
  • English: She endured all the criticism and gossip by herself.
  • Analysis: `非议 (fēiyì)` refers to criticism and censure. This sentence evokes a sense of stoicism and strength in the face of social pressure.
• Example 8:
  • 这家小企业无法承受原材料价格的上涨。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā xiǎo qǐyè wúfǎ chéngshòu yuáncáiliào jiàgé de shàngzhǎng.
  • English: This small business cannot sustain the rise in raw material prices.
  • Analysis: A common business context. Here, `承受` means to absorb or sustain a financial blow.
• Example 9:
  • 病人正在承受巨大的身体痛苦。
  • Pinyin: Bìngrén zhèngzài chéngshòu jùdà de shēntǐ tòngkǔ.
  • English: The patient is enduring immense physical pain.
  • Analysis: This differentiates from emotional pain (`心理痛苦`) by specifying `身体痛苦` (physical pain). `承受` works for both.
• Example 10:
  • 他的心理承受能力很强。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xīnlǐ chéngshòu nénglì hěn qiáng.
  • English: His psychological endurance (lit: ability to bear) is very strong.
  • Analysis: `承受能力 (chéngshòu nénglì)` is a set noun phrase meaning “tolerance,” “endurance,” or “capacity to bear something.” It's a great way to describe someone's resilience.

A major challenge for learners is distinguishing `承受` from similar verbs.

• `承受 (chéngshòu)` vs. `忍受 (rěnshòu)`
  • `承受` focuses on capacity and support. It's about having the strength to hold up a burden. It can be neutral. A bridge `承受` weight.
  • `忍受 (rěnshòu)` means “to tolerate” or “put up with.” It focuses on patience and suffering. It implies you dislike the situation and are actively suppressing your discomfort. You `忍受` a toothache or a noisy neighbor.
  • Mistake: Saying `这座桥在忍受卡车的重量` (The bridge is tolerating the truck's weight). This is wrong. A bridge doesn't have feelings to suppress; it simply bears the weight. Use `承受`.
  • Correct: `这座桥在承受卡车的重量。`
• `承受 (chéngshòu)` vs. `接受 (jiēshòu)`
  • `承受` is for bearing an imposed, often negative, burden. You `承受` pressure, losses, or pain.
  • `接受 (jiēshòu)` means “to accept,” and it's often a neutral or willing act. You `接受` a gift, an invitation, an apology, or an idea.
  • Mistake: Saying `我承受你的道歉` (I bear your apology). This is incorrect and sounds very strange.
  • Correct: `我接受你的道歉。` (I accept your apology.)
  • Correct: `我承受了批评。` (I bore the criticism.)

• 忍受 (rěnshòu) - To tolerate, to put up with. Emphasizes the internal struggle against something unpleasant, whereas `承受` emphasizes the capacity to withstand it.
• 担当 (dāndāng) - To take on (a responsibility), to shoulder. More proactive and positive than `承受`. It implies willingly stepping up to take charge.
• 负担 (fùdān) - (Noun) A burden, load, encumbrance. This is often the thing that one `承受`.
• 压力 (yālì) - (Noun) Pressure, stress. The most common abstract concept that people `承受`.
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - “To eat bitterness.” A verb phrase that describes the act of enduring hardship, a core cultural value related to the ability to `承受`.
• 坚持 (jiānchí) - To persist, to persevere. This is the action one takes to continue `承受`-ing a difficult situation over time.
• 接受 (jiēshòu) - To accept. Used for willingly receiving things like gifts, apologies, or suggestions, not for bearing burdens.
• 面临 (miànlín) - To be faced with, to be confronted with. Describes the situation *before* you have to `承受` it. You `面临` a challenge, and then you must `承受` the pressure of that challenge.