(chí xù) - to continue, to last, to be sustained in Mandarin
chíxùTraditional: 持續
Translation
to continue, to last, to be sustained
Word origin
A compound of 持 (chí, to hold, to maintain) and 续 (xù, to continue, to join on), so to hold something and keep it running.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 持 (chí, hold) + 续 (xù, continue)
Stroke order
持
续
Examples
。
The rain lasted three days.
。
This situation cannot go on.
。
The meeting ran until five in the afternoon.
。
He kept the effort up for many years.
。
We need sustained support.
持续 (chí xù) describes something going on without a break: rain, a meeting, a war, a rise in prices. It leans slightly formal and is very common in news writing, weather reports and business talk.
The subject is normally the event itself rather than a person. 雨持续了三天 is natural; a person is far more likely to take 坚持 (to persevere) or 继续 (to carry on). 持续 can also sit in front of a noun with 的: 持续的压力, sustained pressure.
Watch the difference from 继续. 继续 means resume or carry on after a point, often after a pause, and it happily takes an object: 继续说. 持续 is about duration with no interruption and rarely takes an object at all. If a colleague stops mid sentence, you say 继续, never 持续.
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持续: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "持续" (to continue, to last, to be sustained): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 41.