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保守 (bǎo shǒu) — (adjective) conservative; (verb) to keep, to guard (a secret, tradition, etc.)

Definition

As an adjective, 保守 means 'conservative' (ideas, estimates, attitudes) — distinct from 传统 ('traditional'), which describes established customs rather than a resistance to change. As a verb, 保守秘密 means 'to keep a secret,' parallel to 守 in 守秘密.

adjective
conservative
verb
to keepto guard (a secret, tradition, etc.)

Examples

  • 保守。
    Tā de xiǎng fǎ hěn bǎo shǒu.
    His ideas are very conservative.
  • 保守。
    Qǐng nǐ bǎo shǒu zhè ge mì mì.
    Please keep this secret.
  • 保守，。
    Zhè shì bǎo shǒu gū jì, shí jì shù zì kě néng gèng gāo.
    This is a conservative estimate; the actual number may be higher.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

保bǎokeep
守shǒuguard

保 means to keep or guard, and 守 also means to guard or hold, so the two parts combine to mean keeping and guarding.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

保 originally showed a person 人 carrying a child 子 on their back, which led to the sense of protecting.

Open 保 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →
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