Definition
持 (chí) is a versatile verb meaning 'to hold/grasp' (physical, as in holding an object) and also 'to maintain/persevere' (abstract, as in 坚持). Compared to 握 (wò), which is specifically for physically gripping one object, 持 is broader, including managing (经营) and holding shares. For 'maintain', 维持 (wéi chí) implies sustaining an existing state often with effort, while 保持 (bǎo chí) focuses on preserving a condition over time (e.g., keep quiet).
verb
to holdto graspto maintainto persevereto manageto run
Easily confused
- 诗shīlook-alikepoem; poetry; verse
- 吃chīsound-aliketo eat
- 待dàilook-aliketo treat, to deal with (a person or a matter)
- 迟chísound-alikelate; delayed
- 特tèlook-alikeespecially, particularly
- 尺chǐsound-alike(classifier) a Chinese foot, a traditional unit of length equal to about 1/3 meter
- 等děnglook-aliketo wait for
- 池chísound-alikepool, pond
Examples
- 持。Tā shuāngshǒu chí zhe yí ge huāpíng.She is holding a vase with both hands.
- 持。Tā chí jǐnshèn tàidu gǎijìn chǎnpǐn zhìliàng.He holds a cautious attitude in improving product quality.
- 持。Tā chí zhè jiā gōngsī bǎi fēn zhī sānshí de gǔfèn.He holds thirty percent of the shares in this company.
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