维持

• Pinyin: wéi chí
• Hanzi breakdown: 维 = 纟(thread) + 隹 (bird, phonetic); 持 = 扌(hand) + 寺 (temple, phonetic)

Meaning

To maintain; to keep up; to sustain a condition or relationship.

Used when talking about sustaining a state, condition, or relationship over time with deliberate effort. Slightly more formal than 保持 (bǎochí). Common in contexts of maintaining order (维持秩序), sustaining a livelihood (维持生计), and keeping operations running.

Examples

1. 警察在现场积极维持秩序，防止人群出现混乱。 Police actively maintained order at the scene to prevent the crowd from becoming chaotic.
2. 两国通过持续的外交努力维持了良好的合作关系。 The two countries sustained a good cooperative relationship through ongoing diplomatic efforts.
3. 他靠做兼职工作来维持日常生活的基本开销。 He keeps up with his basic daily expenses by doing part-time work.

Usage Guide

Context: work, social, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们需要维持良好的工作氛围。(We need to maintain a good working atmosphere.)
• 他们靠微薄的收入维持生计。(They maintain their livelihood on a very small income.)

Don't Say

• 维持 ≠ 维护 — 维持 means to sustain/keep going; 维护 means to actively protect or defend something. The nuance matters in formal writing.

Origin & History

Compound of 维 (to hold together/maintain, from 纟 thread + 隹 bird phonetic — the thread that holds things in place) and 持 (to hold/keep, from 扌 hand + 寺 phonetic).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal