保养 bǎoyǎng to take good care of one's health
to take good care of (or conserve) one's health; to keep in good repair; to maintain; maintenance
How to remember 保养: 保 to protect + 养 to raise = to take good care of one's health.
Characters
How it is used
- To maintain/service equipment so it keeps working - 保养汽车 (bǎoyǎng qìchē) to service a car; 定期保养 (regular maintenance).
- Also caring for one's body/skin to keep it in good shape: 她很会保养 (tā hěn huì bǎoyǎng) she takes good care of herself (looks young).
- Unlike 修理 (xiūlǐ, to repair what's broken), 保养 is preventive upkeep of something still working.