忍气吞声
rěn qì tūn shēng
to swallow one’s anger; to suffer in silence
Character by character
忍rěn
endure
endure
气qì
anger
anger
吞tūn
swallow
swallow
声shēng
voice
voice
Example
被老板当众骂了一顿，他也只能忍气吞声，因为怕丢了工作。
His boss tore into him in front of everyone, and he could only swallow it, for fear of losing his job.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Keeping quiet under insult or injustice, usually out of fear or weakness: often 只好／只能忍气吞声, or in protest, 不能再忍气吞声了. Sympathetic to the victim but critical of the silence; close to 逆来顺受 (lesson 6-5).
Learn this in Lesson 182 · HSK 7–9: 讨个说法 (Getting what you are owed)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
Open the lesson →