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秉持 (bǐng chí) — to uphold (a principle, attitude, position)

Definition

Formal verb meaning to uphold or hold fast to an abstract principle, attitude, or value. Close to 坚守 in meaning, but 坚守 emphasizes stubborn persistence, while 秉持 highlights commitment to an ideal.

verb
to uphold (a principle, attitude, position)

Examples

  • 秉持。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi bǐng chí jī jí lè guān de tài dù.
    We should uphold a positive and optimistic attitude.
  • 秉持。
    Gōng sī bǐng chí yòng hù zhì shàng de lǐ niàn.
    The company upholds the philosophy of customer first.
  • ，秉持。
    Zuò wéi jì zhě, tā shǐ zhōng bǐng chí kè guān gōng zhèng de yuán zé.
    As a journalist, she always upholds the principle of objectivity and fairness.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

秉bǐnghold
持chíkeep

秉 (hold) and 持 (keep) combine to mean hold fast to a principle.

Characters in this word

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

秉 combines 禾 (plant) and 又 (hand), showing a hand holding a plant by the stalk.

Open 秉 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Attitudes & Opinions

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.