韧性 (rènxìng) — resilience

韧性 (rènxìng)

韧性 originally referred to the physical toughness of a material — its ability to bend without breaking. In modern usage, it has expanded to describe psychological and social resilience: the capacity of a person, organization, or system to recover from setbacks and adapt to adversity. 韧性 is widely discussed in psychology, education, and business contexts.

Meanings

1. noun resilience, toughness, flexibility under stress; the capacity to recover from difficulty

Example Sentences

面对挫折时韧性是非常重要的品质。 Miànduì cuòzhé shí rènxìng shì fēicháng zhòngyào de pǐnzhí. Resilience is a very important quality when facing setbacks.

这种材料的韧性极强不容易断裂。 Zhè zhǒng cáiliào de rènxìng jí qiáng bù róngyì duànliè. This material has extremely high toughness and is not easily broken.

心理韧性可以通过训练来提高。 Xīnlǐ rènxìng kěyǐ tōngguò xùnliàn lái tígāo. Psychological resilience can be improved through training.

她表现出了极大的韧性克服了困难。 Tā biǎoxiàn chū le jí dà de rènxìng kèfú le kùnnán. She demonstrated great resilience in overcoming difficulties.

社区的韧性在灾后重建中发挥了关键作用。 Shèqū de rènxìng zài zāi hòu chóngjiàn zhōng fāhuī le guānjiàn zuòyòng. Community resilience played a key role in post-disaster reconstruction.

培养韧性需要经历一定的挑战和压力。 Péiyǎng rènxìng xūyào jīnglì yīdìng de tiǎozhàn hé yālì. Building resilience requires experiencing a certain level of challenges and pressure.

Collocations

Usage Notes

韧性 comes from 韧 (tough, pliable) and 性 (nature, quality). The physical meaning (material toughness) and the psychological meaning (resilience) coexist. In psychology and education, 心理韧性 or simply 韧性 is used to translate the English concept of "resilience."

韧性 is considered a positive trait that can be developed. It differs from 坚强 (strong, resolute) in that 韧性 emphasizes flexibility and recovery, while 坚强 emphasizes unwavering firmness.

Memory Hook

韧 relates to toughness that bends without breaking — like bamboo. 韧性 is the quality of bending, not breaking, when life puts pressure on you.