Meaning
维护 means to actively protect, maintain, or defend something valuable like rights, order, relationships, or systems. It emphasizes ongoing effort to preserve something's proper state or integrity. The word carries a sense of responsibility and active protection rather than passive preservation.
Usage
Commonly used in formal contexts regarding rights, interests, social order, or international relations. Also appears in technical contexts for equipment maintenance. The word suggests active, purposeful protection rather than casual care. Often paired with abstract concepts like 权益 (rights), 和平 (peace), or 秩序 (order).
Examples
- 01我们必须维护消费者的合法权益。.We must safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
- 02这台设备需要定期维护才能正常运行。.This equipment needs regular maintenance to operate properly.
Characters
Common collocations
- 维护权益to safeguard rights and interests
- 维护和平to maintain peace
- 维护秩序to maintain order
- 系统维护system maintenance
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to protection: 维 originally meant 'rope' or 'to tie together' (suggesting holding things in place), while 护 means 'to guard.' Together they emphasize comprehensive protection and maintenance.