The compound word 持久 is formed through a combination of two independent characters, each contributing a core semantic element to create an abstract, enduring concept. The first character, 持 (chí), means "to hold", "to grasp", or "to maintain", carrying a sense of active sustaining. It is paired with the second character, 久 (jiǔ), which means "a long time" or "duration". When combined, the logical relationship is one of modification or result, where 持 ("to maintain") acts upon the state described by 久 ("long time"), thus yielding the combined meaning of "enduring", "lasting", or "persistent". This formation is a classic example of a coordinative or verb-complement compound in Chinese, where the two elements synergize to express a single, nuanced idea of prolonged maintenance or durability.