我慢 and 辛抱: enduring and holding back
Learn common patterns for two overlapping words, separating duration from the ability to keep going.
Putting up with discomfort
我慢, read がまん, describes enduring distress or holding back a desire. 暑さを我慢しました。 means that someone put up with the heat.
言いたいことを我慢しました。 says that someone held back what they wanted to say. Distinguish enduring a temperature from restraining an urge to speak.
Enduring difficulty
辛抱, read しんぼう, describes enduring difficulty or discomfort. もう少し辛抱してください。 asks someone to hold on a little longer.
辛抱強く待ちました。 says that someone waited patiently. It reports past waiting but does not establish whether the awaited result was obtained.
Duration and limits
あと十分だけ我慢します。 says that the person will put up with something for just ten more minutes. あと and だけ rule out a translation saying that ten minutes have already passed.
我慢 and 辛抱 overlap in many situations. もう我慢できません。 expresses an inability to endure any longer, not merely a preference not to endure.
Does あと十分だけ我慢します mean that someone has already endured ten minutes?
Show the answer and why
No. It means enduring for just ten more minutes. あと marks the remaining time.