维持

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 警察在现场维持秩序。▶ —
   The police maintain order at the scene.
2. 微薄的收入只够维持生活。▶ —
   The meager income is barely enough to sustain a living.

Collocations

Mnemonic

维 wéi "to hold together" + 持 chí "to keep": to hold together and keep, i.e. to maintain, to sustain. Contrast 保持: 维持 stresses sustaining (so it doesn’t collapse: 维持秩序, 维持生计), 保持 stresses keeping a state as is. 持 has the hand radical 扌. 维持现状 = to maintain the status quo.

Related

Quick check

1. What is a subtle difference between 维持 and 保持?

   • 维持 = to sustain so it doesn’t collapse (order, livelihood); 保持 = to keep a state as is
   • opposites
   • 维持 = color; 保持 = taste
   • 保持 = past only