隱忍

隱忍

1. to endure silently; to bear with forbearance

   • 且夫臧獲婢妾，猶能引決，況僕之不得已乎！所以隱忍苟活，幽于糞土之中而不辭者，恨私心有所不盡，鄙陋沒世，而文采不表於後世也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     且夫臧获婢妾，犹能引决，况仆之不得已乎！所以隐忍苟活，幽于粪土之中而不辞者，恨私心有所不尽，鄙陋没世，而文采不表于后世也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 93 B.C.E., 司馬遷 (Sima Qian),《報任少卿書》

     Qiě fú zānghuò bìqiè, yóu néng yǐnjué, kuàng pú zhī bùdéyǐ hū! Suǒyǐ yǐnrěn gǒuhuó, yōu yú fèntǔ zhīzhōng ér bùcí zhě, hèn sīxīn yǒusuǒ bù jìn, bǐlòu mòshì, ér wéncǎi bù biǎo yú hòushì yě. [Pinyin]

     Even a miserable slave-girl is capable of putting an end to herself; could you expect less of me, when I had so little choice? It was because I could not bear to leave unfinished my deeply cherished project [i.e. Shi Ji], because I rejected the idea of dying without leaving to posterity my literary work, that I concealed my feelings and clung to life, burying myself in filth without complaint.

   • 臣當死，往者醉失禮，王隱忍不加誅也；臣終不敢以蔭蔽之德而不顯報王也，常願肝腦塗地，用頸血湔敵久矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     臣当死，往者醉失礼，王隐忍不加诛也；臣终不敢以荫蔽之德而不显报王也，常愿肝脑涂地，用颈血湔敌久矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 77 B.C.E., 劉向 (Liu Xiang), 《說苑》 (Garden of Stories), chapter 6

     Chén dāng sǐ, wǎngzhě zuì shīlǐ, wáng yǐnrěn bù jiā zhū yě; chén zhōng bùgǎn yǐ yīnbì zhī dé ér bùxiǎn bào wáng yě, cháng yuàn gānnǎotúdì, yòng jǐng xuè jiān dí jiǔ yǐ. [Pinyin]

     I should have been put to death. A few years ago, I got drunk and forgot my manners. Your Majesty showed restraint and did not put me to death. I would never dare not overtly repay Your Majesty's covert kindness. I would rather put my life on the line and drown the enemy in my own blood.

   • 當其周時未至，殷祀未殄，比干已死，微子已去，向使紂惡未稔而自斃，武庚念亂以圖存，國無其人，誰與興理！是固人事之或然者也。然則先生隱忍而為此，其有志於斯乎？ [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     当其周时未至，殷祀未殄，比干已死，微子已去，向使纣恶未稔而自毙，武庚念乱以图存，国无其人，谁与兴理！是固人事之或然者也。然则先生隐忍而为此，其有志于斯乎？ [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: 柳宗元 (Liu Zongyuan, 773–819),《箕子碑》(Monumental Inscription Dedicated to Jizi)

     Dāng qí Zhōu shí wèi zhì, Yīn sì wèi tiǎn, Bǐgān yǐ sǐ, Wēizǐ yǐ qù, xiàngshǐ Zhòu è wèi rěn ér zìbì, Wǔgēng niàn luàn yǐ túcún, guó wú qí rén, shuí yǔ xīng lǐ! Shì gù rénshì zhī huòrán zhě yě. Ránzé xiānshēng yǐnrěn ér wéi cǐ, qí yǒuzhì yú sī hū? [Pinyin]

     In those days when Yin had not yet been superseded by Zhou, and when Bi Gan had died and Weizi had left, if, before King Zhou's evil had caused his death at its height, and if, when Wu Geng had succeeded to the throne and tried to quell the disorder in an attempt to preserve the existence of Yin, his state had had no one like Jizi, who else would have aided Wu Geng in setting things right? That is something that may occur as a matter of course. Such being the case, perhaps he was aspiring to save his country throughout his silent endurance?