Translation guide
The English verb "sustain" covers several distinct meanings: to maintain or continue something over time, to support physically or emotionally, to suffer or experience something negative, and to provide nourishment. Each meaning maps to different Japanese expressions. Direct translation is rarely possible; choose based on the intended nuance.
To keep something going, such as an effort, activity, or state, often for a long period.
The most direct equivalent for maintaining a state, system, or condition. Often used in formal or written contexts.
It is difficult to sustain peace.
Please sustain this speed.
Emphasizes continuation without interruption. Often used for efforts, activities, or abstract states.
It's hard to sustain concentration.
A common, versatile verb meaning 'to continue'. Use when the focus is on not stopping an action.
If you sustain your efforts, you will succeed someday.
To keep or preserve a state. Often used for abstract qualities like health, balance, or dignity.
Exercise is necessary to sustain health.
To make something last long. Often used for relationships, habits, or motivation.
It takes effort to sustain this relationship.
To hold up, bear weight, or provide strength to someone or something.
To physically support weight, or to emotionally/financially support someone. Very common and natural.
This pillar sustains the roof.
To support an idea, person, or cause, often in a public or abstract sense.
Many people sustain his opinion.
To support financially, to provide for, or to foster. Often used for families or dependents.
To undergo or be subjected to injury, damage, loss, etc.
To receive or sustain damage, injury, influence, etc. Very common.
He sustained serious injuries in the accident.
The company sustained heavy losses.
To suffer or sustain damage, loss, or a negative consequence. Slightly formal.
To bear or sustain injury, responsibility, or debt. Often used for injuries or burdens.
To give the necessary food, water, or energy to live or function.
To nourish, feed, or sustain life. Can be used for people, animals, or even abstract things like hope.
This land can sustain many people.
To sustain life or energy, often in a supportive sense. Less direct than 養う but common.
Literally 'to connect life', meaning to barely sustain life or survive. Poetic or dramatic.
They sustained life with little food.
To confirm or uphold a decision, objection, or law as valid.
The English verb "sustain" has no single Japanese equivalent. Using a dictionary to pick one word often leads to unnatural Japanese. Always consider the specific meaning you want to convey.
Both mean 'to maintain/continue', but 維持する focuses on keeping a state or condition, while 持続する emphasizes uninterrupted continuation of an action or process. 維持する is more common for abstract systems (peace, health), 持続する for efforts or activities.
When talking about sustaining injuries, Japanese often uses the verb 受ける (to receive) or 負う (to bear). The choice depends on the severity and formality: 負う is more literary or serious, 受ける is neutral.
She sustained a broken arm in the fall.
Natural Japanese often avoids a direct equivalent of 'sustain' and simply states the injury.
The company sustained heavy losses.
We need to sustain our efforts.
My family sustained me.
彼は大家族を養っている。
He sustains a large family.
台風で大きな被害を被った。
We sustained great damage from the typhoon.
He sustained wounds in the battle.
水が生命を支えている。
Water sustains life.
裁判所はその主張を認めた。
The court sustained the claim.