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维系 (wéi xì) — to hold together; to maintain (relationships, systems, etc.)

Definition

维系 (wéi xì) means to actively keep a relationship, system, or group from breaking apart — through ongoing effort rather than one-time setup. Pairs naturally with 关系, 和谐, 团结.

verb
to hold togetherto maintain (relationships, systems, etc.)

Examples

  • 维系。
    Zhè ge zǔ zhī yì zhí nǔ lì wéi xì chéng yuán zhī jiān de guān xì.
    This organization has been working hard to maintain relationships among its members.
  • 维系。
    Liáng hǎo de gōu tōng néng wéi xì jiā tíng de hé xié.
    Good communication can maintain family harmony.
  • 维系。
    Tā men yòng gòng tóng de xìn yǎng wéi xì zhe zhè ge tuán tǐ.
    They use shared beliefs to hold this group together.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

维wéimaintain
系xìtie

维 and 系 both carry a binding sense, together meaning to hold together.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 維; 维 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
唯
唯wéi維wéi
Same sound today

In the traditional form 維, 糸 marks a thread meaning and 唯 provides the sound; the simplified 维 is a later shortened shape.

Open 维 →

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

系 is made by putting together 手 (hand) and 糸 (silk).

Open 系 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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