自持 (zì chí) — to exercise self-restraint; to be self-possessed; (literary, sometimes pejorative) to keep oneself aloof; to maintain an arrogant distance

Definition

Literary verb meaning to stay composed and self-restrained, often under pressure or temptation. The second sense — aloof and proud — is pejorative and usually appears negated (e.g. 从不自持清高).

verb
to exercise self-restraintto be self-possessed(literary, sometimes pejorative) to keep oneself aloofto maintain an arrogant distance
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，自持。
    Miàn duì yòu huò, tā néng zì chí bù jīng.
    Faced with temptation, he can maintain composure without being shaken.
  • ，自持。
    Tā suī chū shēn míng mén, què cóng bú zì chí qīng gāo.
    Although born into a distinguished family, she never acts arrogantly aloof.
  • ，自持。
    Zài biàn lùn zhōng, tā shǐ zhōng zì chí yǒu lǐ yǒu jié.
    During the debate, he always maintained self-possession with reason and moderation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

自zìself
持chíhold

自 (self) and 持 (hold) combine to mean keeping oneself in control.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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
手手shǒu
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.

Open 持 →

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