维护 (wéihù)

维护 means "to maintain," "to uphold," or "to defend" and is commonly used to describe protecting rights, interests, or relationships.

Meanings

[verb] to maintain; to keep in good condition
[verb] to uphold; to defend; to protect (rights, interests, order)

Example Sentences

我们要维护社会的稳定。 Wǒmen yào wéihù shèhuì de wěndìng. We must maintain social stability.

他努力维护自己的权利。 Tā nǔlì wéihù zìjǐ de quánlì. He works hard to defend his own rights.

这台机器需要定期维护。 Zhè tái jīqì xūyào dìngqī wéihù. This machine needs regular maintenance.

维护良好的人际关系非常重要。 Wéihù liánghǎo de rénjì guānxi fēicháng zhòngyào. Maintaining good interpersonal relationships is very important.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
维护权益	to protect rights and interests
维护秩序	to maintain order
维护关系	to maintain a relationship
定期维护	regular maintenance

Usage Notes

维护 can refer to both physical maintenance (of machines, systems) and abstract protection (of rights, dignity, peace). It carries a sense of active effort and responsibility. In formal contexts it often appears in phrases about upholding laws, social order, or national interests.

Memory Hook

维 (wéi) means to hold together, and 护 (hù) means to protect: put them together and you are "holding things together by protecting them."