忍
rěn · HSK 5
endure
🗡️❤️ 忍 = 刃 (blade) over 心 (heart) — endure a blade on the heart
The character stacks 刃 (blade) on top of 心 (heart): bearing a knife's edge against your own heart is the classic etymology for endurance and forbearance. The 刀 + dot in 刃 marks where the blade actually cuts.
忍 — blade 刃 (phonetic) + heart 心 (semantic)
忍 is a semantic-phonetic compound: 心 'heart' below gives the meaning, while 刃 'blade' above provides the sound. The image of a blade over the heart vividly suggests enduring pain or restraining oneself, hence the meanings 'endure, bear, be patient'.