坚持 (jiānchí) — to insist; to persist; to stick to
HSK 4 | verb | to maintain a position or action despite difficulty
坚持 (jiānchí)
坚持 means to persist in or stick to something, continuing despite challenges or pressure to stop, and also to insist on a particular position.
Meanings
- [verb] to persist in, stick to, or insist on something with determination
Example Sentences
他坚持每天早起锻炼身体。 Tā jiānchí měi tiān zǎoqǐ duànliàn shēntǐ. He persists in getting up early every day to exercise.
无论多难，你都要坚持下去。 Wúlùn duō nán, nǐ dōu yào jiānchí xiàqù. No matter how difficult it is, you must keep going.
她坚持自己的看法，没有改变立场。 Tā jiānchí zìjǐ de kànfǎ, méiyǒu gǎibiàn lìchǎng. She stuck to her own opinion and did not change her position.
坚持学习是成功的关键。 Jiānchí xuéxí shì chénggōng de guānjiàn. Persisting in learning is the key to success.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 坚持原则 | uphold principles |
| 坚持不懈 | persist unrelentingly |
| 坚持下去 | keep going |
| 坚持学习 | persist in studying |
Usage Notes
坚持 carries a very positive connotation in Chinese culture, where persistence and determination are highly valued qualities. It can be used for physical activities, beliefs, or goals. The idiom 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bùxiè, to persist without stopping) emphasizes unwavering determination. Contrast with 放弃 (fàngqì, to give up), its direct opposite.
Memory Hook
坚 means "firm and solid" and 持 means "to hold or maintain," so 坚持 is to hold on firmly, to persist with a strong grip.