支持 (zhīchí)

支持 means to give active assistance, backing, or resources to someone or a cause, both in interpersonal and institutional contexts.

Meanings

[verb] To support, to back, to endorse, to stand behind.
[noun] Support, backing, endorsement.

Example Sentences

她的父母一直全力支持她追求艺术梦想，尽管这条路充满了不确定性。 Tā de fùmǔ yīzhí quánlì zhīchí tā zhuīqiú yìshù mèngxiǎng, jǐnguǎn zhè tiáo lù chōngmǎn le bù quèdìngxìng. Her parents have always fully supported her in pursuing her artistic dream, despite the uncertainty of this path.

这项提案在国会获得了跨党派的广泛支持，最终以压倒性多数通过。 Zhè xiàng tí'àn zài guóhuì huòdé le kuàdǎngpài de guǎngfàn zhīchí, zuìzhōng yǐ yādǎoxìng duōshù tōngguò. This proposal received broad cross-party support in Congress and was ultimately passed by an overwhelming majority.

没有来自家庭和社区的支持，许多创业者在初期很难坚持下去。 Méiyǒu láizì jiātíng hé shèqū de zhīchí, xǔduō chuàngyèzhě zài chūqī hěn nán jiānchí xiàqù. Without support from family and community, many entrepreneurs find it hard to persevere in the early stages.

这款软件目前支持十二种语言，计划在下个版本中增加更多。 Zhè kuǎn ruǎnjiàn mùqián zhīchí shí'èr zhǒng yǔyán, jìhuà zài xià gè bǎnběn zhōng zēngjiā gèng duō. This software currently supports twelve languages, with plans to add more in the next version.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
全力支持	to fully support
获得支持	to receive support
支持率	approval rating / support rate
技术支持	technical support
表示支持	to express support

Usage Notes

支持 is broadly used from emotional support (支持家人) to technical support (技术支持) to political endorsement (支持候选人). The noun 支持率 (support rate/approval rating) appears frequently in political and survey contexts. A technical use: software 支持某功能 means it "supports" that feature — this extends the word's range into computing contexts.

Memory Hook

支 means "to prop up/branch" and 持 means "to hold/maintain" — propping something up and holding it steady is the physical image of giving support.