Chinese word

坚持

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiān chí

Meaning

  • verbstick to

Example

我想坚持每天跑步。wǒ xiǎng jiān chí měi tiān pǎo bù

I want to stick to running every day.

Illustration for 坚持 (stick to)

More examples

要学好语言，就要每天坚持练习。yào xué hǎo yǔ yán jiù yào měi tiān jiān chí liàn xí

To learn a language well, you need to stick to practicing every day.

Core concept

A firm grip on a decision, routine, or belief that does not loosen under pressure.

Common phrases

  • 坚持学习jiān chí xué xí

    stick to studying

  • 坚持练习jiān chí liàn xí

    stick to practicing

  • 坚持到底jiān chí dào dǐ

    stick it out to the end

Similar words

继续jì xù: Go on doing something or remain in the same state.
保持bǎo chí: Maintain a state, condition, or standard at its existing level.
持续chí xù: Keep existing or occurring throughout a period of time.

Definition in Chinese

在面对困难或反对时仍然维持原有做法、观点或习惯，不轻易放弃。zài miàn duì kùn nán huò fǎn duì shí réng rán wéi chí yuán yǒu zuò fǎ guān diǎn huò xí guàn bù qīng yì fàng qì

Word origin

The written form 坚持 (jiānchí, "to persist") combines 坚 (jiān, "firm") + 持 (chí, "to hold"), creating the image of holding something firm instead of letting it go.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may hear persistence in a routine and resistance in an argument as different ideas, but this single verb covers both, with the surrounding context showing the attitude.

Other meanings

  • insistverb
  • maintainverb
  • be stubbornverb

Word lists with this word