堪 (kān) - To endure, bear, withstand & suitable, adequate

堪Tone 1

kān ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

堪 · kān

To endure, bear, withstand;

suitable, adequate;

can, may;

used in place names.

To endure, bear, withstandsuitable, adequatecan, may

Usage highlights

UnbearableCapable of bearingHard to endureFeasibleWorthyKalamay city

Synonyms

  • 忍— endure, bear, tolerate
  • 耐— withstand, endure
  • 承— bear, undertake

Antonyms

  • 垮— collapse, break down
  • 崩— collapse, crumble

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This situation is unbearable (不堪).
  • He is capable of taking on this responsibility (堪当此任).
  • The city of Kalamay in Xinjiang (克拉玛依市).
  • This plan is feasible (此计划堪行).

Collocations

  • Unbearable(不堪)
  • Capable of bearing(堪当)
  • Hard to endure(难堪)
  • Feasible(堪行)
  • Worthy(堪任)
  • Kalamay city(克拉玛依)

Idioms

  • Unbearably dirty(不堪入目)
  • Unspeakably filthy(不堪入耳)
  • Too miserable to behold(不堪回首)
  • Worthy of being called a model(堪称楷模)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'earth mound' or 'ground' in ancient texts, later extended to mean 'able to bear' or 'endure'.
  • Used in Buddhist contexts to describe endurance of suffering and cultivation of patience.
  • Appears in place names like Kalamay (克拉玛依), an oil city in Xinjiang.

FAQ