Meaning
维持 means to keep something in its current state or to preserve a condition, relationship, or system. It emphasizes actively working to prevent change or deterioration. The word combines 维 (to hold together) and 持 (to hold/maintain), creating the sense of continuously holding something in place.
Usage
维持 is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts to talk about maintaining order, relationships, living standards, or operations. It often appears with abstract nouns like 秩序 (order), 关系 (relationship), 生活 (livelihood), or 平衡 (balance). Native speakers use it when emphasizing the effort or difficulty involved in keeping something stable.
Examples
- 01警察在现场维持秩序。.The police maintained order at the scene.
- 02他们很难维持这段长距离的关系。.It's difficult for them to maintain this long-distance relationship.
Characters
Common collocations
- 维持秩序to maintain order
- 维持生活to make a living, to sustain life
- 维持关系to maintain a relationship
- 维持现状to maintain the status quo
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to holding or grasping. 维 originally depicted ropes tying things together, while 持 shows a hand grasping something, together conveying the active effort of keeping something intact.