bou2 ci4 ping4 hang4保持平衡
Jyutpingbou2 ci4 ping4 hang4
Yalebóu chìh pìhng hàhng
Definition
To maintain balance or keep one's balance.
neutraldaily actionshealth
How it's used
This phrase is used both literally for physical stability and figuratively for work-life balance or emotional equilibrium. It is a standard collocation where the verb 保持 is almost always paired with the noun 平衡. While it sounds slightly formal, it is perfectly natural in everyday conversation when discussing sports, physical activities, or managing one's lifestyle.
Examples
The most important thing when riding a bike is knowing how to keep your balance.
How do you maintain your balance while standing on that tightrope?
Related words
Common phrases
maintain a state of balance
difficult to maintain balance
Common mistake
Learners often try to use other verbs like 攞 or 拎 to mean 'get' or 'hold' balance, but these are incorrect. Only 保持 is used to express the act of maintaining or preserving a state of balance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
