容纳 (róngnà)

容纳 describes the capacity to hold or accommodate a certain number of people or a certain volume, used for physical spaces or metaphorically for acceptance.

Meanings

[verb] To hold; to accommodate; to contain (to have the capacity for a number of people or things).

Example Sentences

这个体育馆能容纳五万名观众。 Zhège tǐyùguǎn néng róngnà wǔ wàn míng guānzhòng. This stadium can accommodate fifty thousand spectators.

新建的图书馆可以容纳更多的书籍。 Xīn jiàn de túshūguǎn kěyǐ róngnà gèng duō de shūjí. The newly built library can hold more books.

这间教室最多容纳三十名学生。 Zhè jiān jiàoshì zuìduō róngnà sānshí míng xuésheng. This classroom can accommodate at most thirty students.

她宽广的心胸能容纳各种不同的意见。 Tā kuānguǎng de xīnxiōng néng róngnà gèzhǒng bùtóng de yìjiàn. Her broad-minded nature can accommodate all kinds of different opinions.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
容纳多少人	how many people can it hold
最多容纳	can accommodate at most
容纳不下	cannot accommodate; no room for
容纳能力	capacity; ability to accommodate

Usage Notes

容纳 is mainly used for physical spaces and their capacity. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a person's ability to accept different ideas or people (e.g., 心胸能容纳). The related noun 容量 refers to the volume or capacity itself.

Memory Hook

容 means "to contain/tolerate" and 纳 means "to receive/take in"; 容纳 opens up space to receive and hold whatever comes in.