Translation guide
The English word "tolerance" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese. The most common everyday meaning is physical endurance or stamina (忍耐力, 耐久力). For social or cultural tolerance (accepting differences), 寛容 is the standard term. In technical contexts like engineering or medicine, 公差 (manufacturing) and 耐性 (drug resistance) are used. Be careful: directly translating "tolerance" as 我慢 can imply passive suffering rather than active acceptance.
公差
tolerance (engineering: allowable deviation)
Technical term for permissible limits in manufacturing.
Expressing physical or mental stamina, the capacity to endure pain, fatigue, or difficult conditions.
The most direct equivalent for 'tolerance' as endurance. Often used in contexts like sports, work, or personal challenges.
マラソンには高い忍耐力が必要だ。
Running a marathon requires a high level of tolerance (endurance).
彼は忍耐力がある。
He has a lot of tolerance (he can endure a lot).
Emphasizes durability and stamina, often for physical objects or long-term physical effort.
Literally 'strength to endure/put up with'. Implies patience and forbearance, often in annoying or painful situations.
彼女の我慢強さには感心する。
I admire her tolerance (patience/forbearance).
A more literal phrase meaning 'power to endure'. Less common as a set term, but understandable.
痛みに耐える力をつける。
Build up tolerance to pain.
Expressing social, cultural, or religious tolerance; willingness to accept opinions or behaviors one may not agree with.
In manufacturing or engineering, the permissible limit of variation in a physical dimension.
The technical term for tolerance in engineering drawings and specifications.
Reduced response to a drug or substance after repeated use, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effect.
The degree of variability in investment returns that an investor is willing to withstand.
Standard term in finance. Often used in investment profiles.
投資家のリスク許容度を評価する。
Assess the investor's risk tolerance.
我慢 (がまん) means 'patience' or 'endurance' in the sense of putting up with something unpleasant. Using it for social tolerance (e.g., accepting diversity) can sound like you are merely suffering through it, which is not the intended meaning. Use 寛容 instead.
❌ 異文化を我慢する。
Intended: 'tolerate different cultures' (but sounds like 'put up with them').
✅ 異文化に寛容である。
Be tolerant of different cultures.
忍耐力 (にんたいりょく) is a neutral or positive term for endurance, often used in contexts like sports or studying. 我慢強さ (がまんづよさ) implies enduring something unpleasant or annoying, and can carry a nuance of passive suffering. Choose based on whether the endurance is admirable (忍耐力) or merely putting up with something (我慢強さ).
多文化社会では寛容さが不可欠だ。
Tolerance is essential in a multicultural society.
彼は痛みに対する耐性が高い。
He has a high pain tolerance.
For pain tolerance, 耐性 is common, but 忍耐力 can also be used.
この車は耐久力に優れている。
This car has excellent tolerance (durability).
The standard term for tolerance as acceptance. Used in social, political, and educational contexts.
異文化に対する寛容さが大切だ。
Tolerance toward different cultures is important.
彼は他人の意見に寛容だ。
He is tolerant of other people's opinions.
Means 'allowance' or 'permission'. Often used in phrases like 許容範囲 (acceptable range). Slightly more formal.
騒音の許容限度を超えている。
It exceeds the tolerance limit for noise.
A more emotional expression: 'a heart that accepts'. Used in personal development or spiritual contexts.
多様性を受け入れる心を持ちたい。
I want to have a tolerance (accepting heart) for diversity.
この部品の公差は±0.1mmです。
The tolerance for this part is ±0.1 mm.
Literally 'allowable difference'. Used similarly to 公差 but can be more general.
許容差を確認してください。
Please check the tolerance (allowable deviation).
Medical/biological term for tolerance, as in drug tolerance or antibiotic resistance.
薬の耐性ができてしまった。
I've developed a tolerance to the medication.
抗生物質に対する耐性菌が問題だ。
Antibiotic-tolerant bacteria are a problem.
Often used for resistance in a broader sense, including pest resistance in agriculture.
害虫が農薬に抵抗性を持つようになった。
The pests have developed a tolerance (resistance) to the pesticide.