Translation guide
The English verb "maintain" covers several distinct meanings: keeping something in good condition, preserving a state or level, asserting a belief, and providing financial support. Japanese uses different words and patterns for each.
To keep something (a machine, building, etc.) in good working order through regular care.
General term for maintaining or preserving a state, condition, or system. Often used for abstract things like health, peace, or standards, but also for physical upkeep.
It's hard to maintain machinery in good condition.
Specifically for maintaining and servicing equipment, vehicles, or infrastructure. Implies regular inspection and repair.
It's important to maintain your car regularly.
To take care of something through cleaning, minor repairs, or grooming. Often used for gardens, skin, or personal belongings.
If you neglect to maintain the garden, it quickly becomes overgrown.
Technical term for maintenance, especially in engineering or IT contexts. Often used for software or system maintenance.
We leave system maintenance to a specialist company.
To keep something at a certain level, rate, or standard; to prevent it from changing or declining.
Broadly used for maintaining a state, condition, or quality. Can be used for physical and abstract things.
It's difficult to maintain a constant room temperature.
Similar to 保つ but slightly more formal. Often used for systems, standards, or long-term conditions.
Loanword from English, used casually for maintaining a level, position, or record. Common in sports and everyday conversation.
If we can maintain this pace, it'll be a new record.
To state firmly that something is true, especially when others may disagree.
To assert, claim, or insist. The most direct equivalent for maintaining a position or opinion.
He continued to maintain his innocence.
To insist or persist in saying something, often with a nuance of stubbornness.
Pattern for quoting the maintained statement.
To provide enough money to support someone or something.
To support financially, especially a family or dependents. Also implies providing for needs beyond money.
He has to maintain a large family.
Formal/legal term for supporting dependents, often used in tax or legal contexts.
Colloquial way to say provide living expenses.
Both mean 'maintain' in the sense of preserving a state. 保つ is more common in everyday speech and can be used for concrete and abstract things. 維持する is slightly more formal and often used for systems, standards, or long-term conditions. In many cases they are interchangeable, but 保つ feels more immediate and personal.
maintain health
The loanword メンテナンスする (maintenance) is common for physical upkeep of machines, but it is not used for abstract meanings like maintaining a relationship or asserting an opinion. Use it only for tangible maintenance tasks.
maintain a car
We need to maintain our competitive edge.
She maintains a positive attitude despite the difficulties.
He tried to maintain his composure.
It's not easy to maintain the current standard of living.
彼女は自分が正しいと言い張った。
She maintained that she was right.
The company maintains that it meets safety standards.
Under tax law, you can receive deductions if you maintain dependents.
He maintains his ex-wife financially.