保守 bǎoshǒu conservative
conservative; to guard; to keep
How to remember 保守: 保 to protect + 守 to defend = conservative.
Characters
How it is used
- As an adjective, conservative/cautious in outlook - 思想保守 (sīxiǎng bǎoshǒu) conservative in thinking; a 保守估计 (bǎoshǒu gūjì) is a conservative estimate.
- As a verb it means to keep/guard: the fixed phrase 保守秘密 (bǎoshǒu mìmì) to keep a secret - don't confuse with 保护.
- The adjective can be mildly critical (stuck in old ways) or neutral (prudent), depending on context.
Example sentences
- 我们很保守。 Wǒmen hěn bǎoshǒu.We're conservative.
- 她永远也做不到保守秘密。 Tā yǒngyuǎn yě zuò búdào bǎoshǒu mìmì.She can never keep a secret.
- 总体上说，日本人很保守。 Zǒngtǐ shàng shuō, rìběn rén hěn bǎoshǒu.On the whole, the Japanese are conservative.