持

chí

寺 + 扌

HSK 3.0Level 7

Frequency#357

Definitions

chí (verb) to hold; to grasp

chí (verb) to maintain; to persist; to keep up

chí (verb) to manage; to control

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 寺 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 寺

About

The character "持" is structurally composed of the hand radical "扌" alongside the component "寺", which historically served as a phonetic indicator for its pronunciation. Its original meaning centered on the physical action of holding or grasping with the hand, and over time this concrete sense expanded to include abstract applications such as maintaining, supporting, or managing something. The components have remained consistent, with "寺" continuing to contribute to the character's sound while possibly evoking associations of duration or control in its extended meanings.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请保持安静。

Qǐng bǎochí ānjìng.

Please keep quiet.

他支持我的决定。

Tā zhīchí wǒ de juédìng.

He supports my decision.

我们必须保持健康。

Wǒmen bìxū bǎochí jiànkāng.

We must maintain health.

她持有有效的护照。

Tā chíyǒu yǒuxiào de hùzhào.

She holds a valid passport.

会议持续了两个小时。

Huìyì chíxùle liǎng gè xiǎoshí.

The meeting lasted for two hours.

政府坚持改革政策。

Zhèngfǔ jiānchí gǎigé zhèngcè.

The government insists on reform policies.

在困难时期，他始终保持乐观。

Zài kùnnán shíqī, tā shǐzhōng bǎochí lèguān.

During difficult times, he always remains optimistic.

为了可持续发展，我们需要保护环境。

Wèile kě chíxù fāzhǎn, wǒmen xūyào bǎohù huánjìng.

For sustainable development, we need to protect the environment.

Related Characters

Component: 寺

Component: 扌

持