Chinese word

保守

Pronunciation

Pinyinbǎo shǒu

Meaning

  • verbkeep

Example

请你保守我的秘密。qǐng nǐ báo shǒu wǒ de mì mì

Please keep my secret.

Illustration for 保守 (keep)

More examples

公司不再保守现状，开始推进改革。gōng sī bú zài báo shǒu xiàn zhuàng kāi shǐ tuī jìn gǎi gé

The company stopped maintaining the status quo and began promoting reforms.

Core concept

Holding an existing state in place by blocking outside change, pressure, or disclosure.

Common phrases

  • 保守现状báo shǒu xiàn zhuàng

    maintain the status quo

  • 保守秘密báo shǒu mì mì

    keep a secret

Similar words

保持bǎo chí: Keep something in the same state or condition without letting it change.
维护wéi hù: Protect and uphold a system, right, or other important thing so it continues to work properly.
保密bǎo mì: Keep information secret by not revealing it to outsiders.

Definition in Chinese

守护并维持某种状态或事物不变，侧重于防止外来影响或信息泄露。shǒu hù bìng wéi chí móu zhǒng zhuàng tài huò shì wù bú biàn cè zhòng yú fáng zhǐ wài lái yíng xiǎng huò xìn xī xiè lòu

Word origin

保守 (bǎoshǒu, "preserve and guard") combines 保 (bǎo, "protect") + 守 (shǒu, "guard"), giving the idea of keeping something safely in its present condition.

Usage tips

  • When the object is private information, the verb frames silence as active protection, not simply as knowing or remembering information.

Other meanings

  • conservativeadjective
  • conservatismnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 保守主义báo shóu zhǔ yìconservatismnoun
  • 保守倾向báo shǒu qīng xiàngconservative tendencynoun

Word lists with this word