Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to grasp; to hold; support; manage; direct; maintain

Chinese: 拿着、保持或支持。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “chi” becomes a different word in each tone. 持 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 支持zhī chíto be in favor of; to support; to back; support
  • 保持bǎo chíto keep; to maintain; to hold; to preserve
  • 坚持jiān chíto persevere with; to persist in; to insist on
  • 持续chí xùto continue; to persist; to last; sustainable
  • 主持zhǔ chíto take charge of; to manage or direct; to preside over; to uphold

Example Sentence

做任何事都要坚持。Zuò rèn hé shì dōu yào jiān chí.In doing anything, you must persevere.

Zuòto make任何rèn héanyshìmatterdōuallyàoto want坚持jiān chíto persevere with

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

The hand radical 扌 plus 寺 (sound): to hold in the hand — ‘to hold, grasp; to maintain, keep up; to manage, run; to support; to oppose’ (保持, 支持, 主持).

A way to remember it

To hold in hand (扌) — to keep up; to support, manage.