堪

to withstand

Kanji 1104

Explore two interrelated on-yomi and four stunningly similar kun-yomi for 堪. These readings enable you to say, “I can’t take this anymore,” “Let’s hang in there till help comes,” “The cottage will not withstand strong winds,” “I’m dying to see her,” and much more. Find out how the rhetorical question “How can I put up with it if I lose?!” really conveys the bold statement “I will never lose.” 

Revision history:

Feb. 9, 2024: p. 5: Removed a broken link.

Nov. 3, 2023: p. 11: Added info. about what the -て form of a verb + たまるか means.

June 12, 2021:

• pp. 1 (Char. Profile) and 2 (Ety. Box): Changed the primary definition of 勘 (1100) to “intuitive perception.”
• pp. 2 and 13: Deleted 勘忍 as a 2nd rendering of かんにん and deleted commentary about that on p. 2.

Jan. 21, 2020:

• p. 2: Etymology Box: I had previously presented both the old Henshall etymology and the new one. I have now omitted the old one and rewritten the new one.
• p. 13: I had said this: "The Japanese often abbreviate 堪らない as たまらん." I changed it to "One archaic version of 堪らない is たまらん."
• p. 15: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Mar. 8, 2019: Originally published.