wai4 ci4維持维持
Jyutpingwai4 ci4
Yalewàih chìh
Definition
To maintain, keep, or preserve in the same state.
neutraldaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the continuation of an existing state or level, often implying effort against change. It is frequently used in formal or semi-formal contexts regarding abstract concepts like relationships, order, or economic conditions. In casual speech, people often prefer simpler verbs like 保持 or 繼續 depending on the specific nuance of the situation.
Examples
They are still maintaining a good friendship.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use it interchangeably with 保持, but 維持 specifically emphasizes the duration or the struggle to keep something going, whereas 保持 is more about preserving a specific quality or state.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
