忍ぶ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 忍ぶ is a godan transitive verb read しのぶ, meaning to endure pain or hardship or to act secretly to avoid notice. Its connective form is 忍んで.
• Basic usage: It can describe enduring pain while walking to the end or leaving by a back door in a way intended to avoid notice.
  • 彼は痛みを忍んで最後まで歩いた。 says that he endured the pain and walked to the end; 二人は人目を忍ぶように裏口から出た。 says that the two left through the back door in a way intended to avoid notice.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 痛みを忍ぶ
  • を marks pain as what is endured.
• 人目を忍ぶように
  • ように describes leaving by the back door in a way intended to avoid notice.
• 忍ぶ and 耐える
  • 忍ぶ can mean enduring pain or acting secretly, while 耐える focuses on withstanding pressure or suffering.