坚守

• Pinyin: jiān shǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 坚 = 土 + 又 (earth + hand — firm, solid); 守 = 宀 + 寸 (roof + hand/inch — guarding what is under shelter, keeping one's post)

Meaning

To hold firm; to guard steadfastly; to stand fast; to maintain resolutely. To stay at one's post or uphold a principle despite pressure, difficulty, or temptation.

Originally a military term for defending a position. Extended to describe holding fast to values, principles, professional duties, or commitments against adversity. A highly valued virtue in Chinese ethical discourse. Frequently used in commendation and inspirational contexts.

Examples

1. 守军在物资匮乏的情况下仍然坚守阵地达三个月之久。 Despite severe shortages of supplies, the defending troops held their position for as long as three months.
2. 无论外部环境如何变化，他始终坚守着自己的职业道德底线。 No matter how the outside environment changes, he consistently upholds the bottom line of his professional ethics.
3. 这位老教师在偏远山区坚守岗位四十年，为数千名学生带去了知识与希望。 This veteran teacher held fast to her post in a remote mountain area for forty years, bringing knowledge and hope to thousands of students.

Usage Guide

Context: ethics, military, professional duty, inspirational writing, social commentary

Tone: commendatory

Do Say

• 在价值多元、利益复杂的时代，坚守内心道德信念并不容易，需要超越诱惑的力量和承受误解的韧性。(In an era of diverse values and complex interests, it is not easy to hold fast to one's moral convictions; it requires strength beyond temptation and the resilience to bear misunderstanding.)
• 几代科学家甘愿在条件简陋的基层科研岗位上默默坚守，用数十年如一日的专注与奉献，推动了这一基础学科从无到有、从弱到强的历史性跨越。(Generations of scientists were willing to quietly hold fast to grassroots scientific research positions under simple conditions, using their focus and dedication — the same day after day for decades — to drive the historic leap of this fundamental discipline from nothing to something, from weak to strong.)

Don't Say

• 坚守 implies determined, principled maintenance of a position under pressure. Do not use it merely for staying in a place (use 留在 or 待在) or for maintaining a habit (use 坚持). 坚守 always implies there is something challenging or costly about maintaining the position.

Origin & History

坚 (firm; solid; steadfast) + 守 (to guard; to defend; to keep — 宀 roof + 寸 inch/hand — a hand protecting what is beneath the roof)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal