wai4 hai6維繫维系
Jyutpingwai4 hai6
Yalewàih haih
Definition
To maintain or hold together relationships or connections.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the effort required to keep a bond or connection from breaking or fading away. It implies an active, ongoing process of nurturing rather than just a passive state of being together. Use this when discussing the work put into keeping families, friendships, or professional networks intact.
Examples
Maintaining a relationship is really not easy.
How do you guys usually maintain this friendship?
Related words
Common phrases
maintain a relationship
maintain emotional ties
Common mistake
Avoid using this for physical objects, as it is strictly reserved for abstract concepts like relationships, harmony, or social ties. Do not use it to mean keeping an object in good condition, for which 保持 or 維持 is more appropriate.
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.
