維持

• Reading: いじ
• Romaji: iji
• Kanji breakdown: 維 (i) — maintain, link; 持 (ji) — hold, keep
• Pronunciation: /i.dʑi/

Meaning

Maintenance; preservation; upkeep. Keeping something in its current state or condition.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (維持する). Used for maintaining health (健康を維持する), preserving order (秩序を維持する), keeping up standards, and sustaining relationships. Common in formal and business contexts. The related concept 維持費 (maintenance costs) appears frequently in real estate and business.

Examples

1. 健康を維持するために毎日運動している。 I exercise every day to maintain my health.
2. この建物の維持費はかなり高い。 The maintenance costs for this building are quite high.
3. 良い人間関係を維持するのは大切だ。 It's important to maintain good relationships.

Usage Guide

Context: health, business, infrastructure

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 維 (i, to maintain/link) and 持 (ji, to hold/keep). Together, 'holding things linked' — sustaining connections and keeping things in order.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal