持久 (chí jiǔ) — long-lasting; enduring; persistent | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adjective for something that keeps going or lasting a long time (peace, effort, effects). Compare 永久 (absolute, unchanging) and 长期 (a long timeframe, often a period noun).

adjective

long-lastingenduringpersistent

Examples

持久。
Tā men xī wàng jiàn lì chí jiǔ de hé píng.
They hope to establish lasting peace.
持久。
Zhǐ yǒu chí jiǔ de nǔ lì cái néng dài lái chéng gōng.
Only persistent effort can bring success.
持久，。
Jīng guò chí jiǔ de péi xùn, tā de jì néng tí gāo le.
After long-lasting training, his skills improved.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

持chímaintain

持久 combines maintain and long to mean lasting or enduring.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

寺

寺sì持chí

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

持 combines 手 (hand), for the idea of holding, with 寺, which gives the sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Frequency & Duration

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