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March 24, 2026
维持(維持)wéichí(wei2chi2)
维持 (wéichí) means to keep something in its current state or to maintain it. This verb is commonly used in contexts such as maintaining relationships, preserving health, or keeping a certain condition stable. It implies an ongoing effort to prevent deterioration or change.
Frequency#2975DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, maintaining harmonious relationships (和谐关系) is highly valued, making 维持 a significant concept in personal and professional interactions. This reflects the cultural emphasis on stability and continuity in social ties.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old man (维) holding a shield (持) to protect and maintain peace in a village. The character 维 resembles a person with a protective stance, while 持 signifies holding onto something, reinforcing the idea of keeping or maintaining.
Meanings of 维持
wéichí(wei2chi2)
1to keep
2to maintain
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About 维持
维持Simplified
維持Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2975Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 维持
Podcast: 维持
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
Imagine a wise old man (维) holding a shield (持) to protect and maintain peace in a village. The character 维 resembles a person with a protective stance, while 持 signifies holding onto something, reinforcing the idea of keeping or maintaining.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context when using 维持; it is often used in more formal registers, especially in discussions about relationships or systems. Common collocations include 维持关系 (maintain a relationship) and 维持稳定 (maintain stability). Avoid confusing it with similar verbs like 保持 (bǎochí), which can also mean 'to keep' but is less formal.
HSK Study Tips
As a Level 6 word, 维持 connects with other verbs related to action and condition, such as 保持 (bǎochí) and 维护 (wéihù). Focus on practicing its use in sentences that describe actions taken to maintain situations, as well as its collocations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, maintaining harmonious relationships (和谐关系) is highly valued, making 维持 a significant concept in personal and professional interactions. This reflects the cultural emphasis on stability and continuity in social ties.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 维持 with 维护 (wéi hù), which specifically means to safeguard or uphold something. For example, saying '我维持我的工作' (I maintain my job) should be corrected to '我维护我的工作' to indicate protecting one's job.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 维持
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Grammar Patterns of 维持
维持 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese society, maintaining harmonious relationships (和谐关系) is highly valued, making 维持 a significant concept in personal and professional interactions. This reflects the cultural emphasis on stability and continuity in social ties.
Frequently Asked Questions about 维持
While both mean 'to maintain', 维持 is often used in more formal contexts and implies a continuous effort to keep something stable, whereas 保持 can be more casual and refer to simply keeping something in a certain state.
Yes, 维持 is commonly used to talk about maintaining one's health, such as 维持健康 (maintain health).
Absolutely, it is frequently used in business discussions, such as 维持客户关系 (maintaining client relationships).
