Chinese word

保持

Pronunciation

Pinyinbǎo chí

Meaning

  • verbmaintain

Example

我们要保持联系。wǒ men yào bǎo chí lián xì

We need to keep in touch.

Illustration for 保持 (maintain)

More examples

请在图书馆内保持安静。qǐng zài tú shū guǎn nèi bǎo chí ān jìng

Please keep quiet in the library.

Core concept

A stable state is protected from drifting into a different one.

Common phrases

  • 保持秩序bǎo chí zhì xù

    maintain order

  • 保持安静bǎo chí ān jìng

    keep quiet

  • 保持联系bǎo chí lián xì

    keep in touch

Similar words

维持wéi chí: Keep a current state or order from breaking down, often through continued effort.
保存bǎo cún: Store an object or data safely so it remains available for a long time.
保留bǎo liú: Leave a decision or process undone so it can be dealt with later.
继续jì xù: Carry on with the same action or state without stopping.

Definition in Chinese

使某种状态持续存在，不让其明显改变，常用于描述关系、习惯、数值或系统的稳定维持。shǐ móu zhǒng zhuàng tài chí xù cún zài bú ràng qí míng xiǎn gǎi biàn cháng yòng yú miáo shù guān xì xí guàn shù zhí huò xì tǒng de wěn dìng wéi chí

Word origin

保 (bǎo, "preserve") + 持 (chí, "hold") join protection with continued support, which gives the word its sense of keeping a state stable.

Usage tips

  • For general conversation, this verb highlights continuity rather than a single action, making it suitable when a situation needs to stay steady from one moment to the next.

Other meanings

  • keepverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word