支持

• Pinyin: zhī chí
• Hanzi breakdown: 支 = 十 (ten) + 又 (hand); 持 = 扌(hand) + 寺 (temple)

Meaning

Support; back up. To give approval, encouragement, or assistance to someone or something.

Used broadly to express support in personal, professional, and political contexts. Can refer to emotional support, financial backing, or ideological endorsement. Often appears in phrases like 支持你 (I support you) or 得到支持 (receive support). More formal than 帮助 when describing institutional or ideological backing.

Examples

1. 谢谢你一直支持我。 Thank you for always supporting me.
2. 大家都支持他的计划。 Everyone supports his plan.
3. 父母支持她出国留学的决定。 Her parents support her decision to study abroad.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, business, politics

Tone: encouraging

Do Say

• 我支持你的想法。(I support your idea.)
• 他的工作得到了领导的支持。(His work received support from the leadership.)

Don't Say

• 我支持你的身体。(Don't use 支持 for physical support — use 扶 or 撑 for physically holding someone up)

Origin & History

支 (branch, prop up) + 持 (hold, maintain). Together they convey the idea of holding something up, hence 'to support.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal