Meaning of 维持
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to keep; to maintain; to preserve
How to use 维持
维持 is used for keeping a state or situation from getting worse or ending, such as order, life, a relationship, or a current level. It often suggests effort to hold things steady. Example: 警察在现场维持秩序。(Jǐngchá zài xiànchǎng wéichí zhìxù.) The police are keeping order at the scene.
维 (wéi) has the silk radical 纟, like a rope that ties things together, and 持 (chí) has the hand radical 扌, a hand holding on. Picture a hand gripping a rope so things do not fall apart: that is 维持, keeping something going.
Common mistake: Learners often swap 维持 and 保持 (bǎochí). 保持 is about keeping a habit, quality, or state as it is, like 保持安静 (keep quiet), while 维持 stresses barely sustaining something that could fail, like 维持生活 (make ends meet). Saying 维持安静 or 维持联系 sounds odd where 保持 is the natural choice.
维持 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
维 wéi · to preserve · 11 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
持 chí · to hold · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 维持.
| 保持 | bǎochí | to keep; to maintain |
| 支持 | zhīchí | to be in favor of; to support |
| 坚持 | jiānchí | to persevere with; to persist in |
| 持续 | chíxù | to continue; to last; to persist |
| 主持 | zhǔchí | to take charge of; to manage or direct |
| 维护 | wéihù | to defend; to safeguard |
| 维修 | wéixiū | maintenance (of equipment); to protect and maintain |
| 思维 | sīwéi | (line of) thought; thinking |
| 二维码 | èrwéimǎ | 2D barcode; matrix code; (esp.) QR code |
| 持有 | chíyǒu | to hold (passport, views etc) |
| 主持人 | zhǔchírén | host; master of ceremonies; (TV or radio) presenter; anchor; (Tw) (research project) princ |
| 维生素 | wéishēngsù | vitamin |
Questions about 维持
What does 维持 mean?
维持 (wéichí) means "to keep; to maintain; to preserve" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 维持?
维持 is made of 2 characters: 维 (11 strokes), 持 (9 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.
Is 维持 an HSK word?
Yes. 维持 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 维持 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 维持 is written 維持.
What are common phrases with 维持?
Very common ones are 维持秩序 (maintain order), 维持生活 or 维持生计 (make a living, get by), 维持现状 (keep the status quo), and 维持和平 (keep the peace).
What is the difference between 维持 and 维护?
维持 means to keep something going at its current level. 维护 (wéihù) means to protect or defend something from harm, such as 维护权利 (defend rights) or 维护设备 (maintain equipment).