持 chí maintain
maintain; to hold
How to remember 持: 扌 hand + 寺 temple = maintain. Every morning the volunteer takes a broom in her hand and sweeps the temple steps, happy to help maintain them.
Component breakdown
持 = 扌 hand + 寺 temple
- 扌 hand
- 寺 temple
Every morning the volunteer takes a broom in her hand and sweeps the temple steps, happy to help maintain them.
How it is used
- "To hold/maintain", mostly abstract rather than gripping an object - it means keeping a state going: 保持 (bǎochí) to keep, 持续 (chíxù) to continue, 维持 (wéichí) to sustain.
- 坚持 (jiānchí) = to persist/insist on, a top-frequency word: 坚持锻炼 (jiānchí duànliàn) keep up exercising, 坚持己见 (jiānchí jǐjiàn) stick to one's opinion.
- 主持 (zhǔchí) = to host/chair (主持会议 zhǔchí huìyì chair a meeting); 支持 (zhīchí) = to support/back.
Words with 持
- 坚持jiānchípersist inHSK 3
- 支持zhīchísustainHSK 4
- 主持zhǔchíto take charge ofHSK 5
- 保持bǎochíto keepHSK 5
- 持续chíxùto continueHSK 5
- 维持wéichíto keepHSK 5
- 持久chíjiǔlastingHSK 6
- 持有chíyǒuto hold (passport, views etc)HSK 6
- 持平chípíngto stay levelHSK 7
- 劫持jiéchíto kidnapHSK 8
- 扶持fúchíto helpHSK 8
- 持之以恒chízhī-yǐhéngto pursue unremittingly (idiom)HSK 8
- 挟持xiéchíto seize (somebody) by the armsHSK 8
- 秉持bǐngchíto upholdHSK 9
Example sentences
- 初冬时节，他还坚持晨跑。 Chūdōng shíjié, tā hái jiānchí chénpǎo.He still insists on running in the morning even though it's early winter.
- 我精神上支持你。 Wǒ jīngshén shang zhīchí nǐ.I'll give you mental support.