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撑住 (chēng zhù) — to brace, to prop up (physically); to hold out, to sustain, to endure (figuratively)

Definition

A verb with two distinct senses: literally 'to prop up, brace' something physically (e.g. a wall with a pole), and figuratively 'to hold out, endure' under pressure.

verb
to braceto prop up (physically)to hold outto sustainto endure (figuratively)

Examples

  • 撑住。
    Tā yòng yì gēn mù gùn chēng zhù le kuài yào dǎo de qiáng.
    He propped up the wall that was about to fall with a wooden pole.
  • ，撑住。
    Gōng sī zuì jìn hěn kùn nan, dàn tā hái zài pīn mìng chēng zhù.
    The company is struggling recently, but he's still desperately trying to hold out.
  • 撑住，。
    Nǐ yào chēng zhù, bù néng qīng yì fàng qì.
    You have to hold on; you can't give up easily.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

撑chēngprop
住zhùhold firm

撑 means to prop and 住 means to hold firm, so the word means to brace and sustain.

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 撐; 撑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
牚
牚chēng撐chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 撐 pairs 手 (hand) with 牚, which gives the sound; the simplified 撑 is a shorthand.

Open 撑 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ住zhù
Same sound today

住 pairs 亻, the person radical (written fully as 人), with 主, which supplies the sound.

Open 住 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsWill & Intention

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