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持 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
持
chí
to hold
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to grasp
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to support
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to maintain
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to persevere
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to manage
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to run (i.e. administer)
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to control
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
持
chí
to hold, to support, to sustain
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #5347, Very Hard
chí(chi2)chi T2
1to hold
2to grasp
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March 24, 2026
持chí(chi2)
The character 持 (chí) primarily means 'to hold' or 'to grasp.' It is often used in contexts involving support, maintenance, or management of something, whether it be physical objects or abstract concepts like principles or responsibilities. This word conveys a sense of control and perseverance in various situations.
Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#5347DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of holding or maintaining (持) is often linked to values like perseverance and responsibility, particularly in family and social relationships, reflecting the importance of sustaining connections and duties.
Memory tip
Imagine a strong hand (the radical 扌 representing 'hand') holding tightly onto a large 'chi' (气, symbolizing energy or spirit). Visualize this strong grip as a way to maintain or support something vital, which helps you remember both the shape of the character and its meaning.
Meanings of 持
chí(chi2)
1to hold
2to grasp
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 持
持Simplified
9Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5347Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 持
Podcast: 持
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AI study notes for 持
Quick Contrast
持 (chí) vs 拿 (ná) — use 持 when emphasizing support or maintenance, while 拿 focuses more on the action of taking or holding.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 持 with similar verbs like 拿 (ná, to take) or 抱 (bào, to hug), but 持 emphasizes a sense of ongoing support or management. It is versatile in both formal and informal contexts, commonly appearing in phrases like 持续 (chíxù, to continue) or 持有 (chíyǒu, to possess). Pay attention to tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 持 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects well with verbs that describe actions involving control or maintenance, such as 维护 (wéihù, to maintain) and 管理 (guǎnlǐ, to manage). Focus on recognizing it in compound words to enhance vocabulary acquisition.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 持 incorrectly in place of other verbs like 拿, leading to sentences such as '我拿着这个' (Wǒ názhe zhège, 'I hold this'), which should be '我持着这个' (Wǒ chí zhe zhège) if the context is about maintaining or managing it.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 持
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Example
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Knowing 持 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
持 = 扌 + 寺. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 持
IDS Structure⿰扌寺
持Full character
=
扌shou3
left
寺si4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 持?
How to say to hold in Chinese
“to hold” in Chinese is持chí
The character 持 (chí) primarily means 'to hold' or 'to grasp.' It is often used in contexts involving support, maintenance, or management of something, whether it be physical objects or abstract concepts like principles or responsibilities. This word conveys a sense of control and perseverance in various situations.
When to use 持
Learners often confuse 持 with similar verbs like 拿 (ná, to take) or 抱 (bào, to hug), but 持 emphasizes a sense of ongoing support or management. It is versatile in both formal and informal contexts, commonly appearing in phrases like 持续 (chíxù, to continue) or 持有 (chíyǒu, to possess). Pay attention to tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.
持 or something close to it
持 (chí) vs 拿 (ná) — use 持 when emphasizing support or maintenance, while 拿 focuses more on the action of taking or holding.
What learners get wrong
Learners often use 持 incorrectly in place of other verbs like 拿, leading to sentences such as '我拿着这个' (Wǒ názhe zhège, 'I hold this'), which should be '我持着这个' (Wǒ chí zhe zhège) if the context is about maintaining or managing it.
Write 持
持
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Grammar patterns of 持
持 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
She held a glass of water throughout the meeting to stay alert.
16
他在演唱会上持着吉他，吸引了全场的目光。
Tā zài yǎnchànghuì shàng chí zhe jítā, xīyǐn le quán chǎng de mùguāng.
He held a guitar at the concert, capturing the attention of the entire audience.
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Cultural Notes for 持
💡Did you know?
The character 持 (chí) is commonly used in phrases related to perseverance and maintaining one's principles. In Chinese culture, the idea of 'holding firm' is often linked to personal integrity and resilience.
📜Proverb
A common Chinese proverb states, '坚持就是胜利' (jiānchí jiùshì shènglì), meaning 'Perseverance is victory.' This reflects the cultural value placed on determination and steadfastness.
Word Family of 持
Words containing this character20
支持zhīchíto support
保持bǎochíto keep
坚持jiānchíto persevere with堅持
持续chíxùto continue持續
维持wéichíto keep維持
持chíto hold
主持人zhǔchírénhost
主持zhǔchíto take charge of
持有chíyǒuto hold (passport, views etc)
扶持fúchíto help
劫持jiéchíto kidnap
持久chíjiǔlasting
持股chígǔto hold shares
支持者zhīchízhěsupporter
持平chípíngfair
持有人chíyǒurénholder
挟持xiéchíto seize挾持
坚持不懈jiānchíbùxièto persevere unremittingly (idiom); to keep going until the end堅持不懈
持械chíxièarmed (robbery etc)
支持率zhīchílǜsupport level
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 持
What does 支持 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 持
While 持 (chí) is more commonly found in written Chinese or formal contexts, it can still appear in everyday conversation, especially when discussing concepts of support or perseverance. Many learners encounter it in advanced studies.
Common phrases include '持久' (chí jiǔ - lasting) and '持之以恒' (chí zhī yǐ héng - to persevere). These phrases emphasize the idea of maintaining or enduring over time.
You can use 持 (chí) in sentences like '我持有这个观点' (I hold this viewpoint) or '他一直持之以恒' (He perseveres consistently). It's often used in formal or written contexts when discussing principles or beliefs.
持 (chí) means to hold, grasp, support, maintain, persevere, or manage. It is often used in contexts where someone is holding onto something physically or metaphorically, such as maintaining a belief or supporting a cause.
You can say '我会持之以恒' (wǒ huì chí zhī yǐ héng), meaning 'I will persevere.'
Yes, 持 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in written Chinese.
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