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.
平和を維持するのは難しい。
It is difficult to sustain peace.
Please sustain this speed.
Emphasizes continuation without interruption. Often used for efforts, activities, or abstract states.
集中力を持続させるのは大変だ。
It's hard to sustain concentration.
A common, versatile verb meaning 'to continue'. Use when the focus is on not stopping an action.
努力を続ければ、いつか成功する。
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.
健康を保つには運動が必要だ。
Exercise is necessary to sustain health.
To make something last long. Often used for relationships, habits, or motivation.
この関係を長続きさせるには努力がいる。
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.
この柱が屋根を支えている。
This pillar sustains the roof.
家族が私を支えてくれた。
My family sustained me.
To support an idea, person, or cause, often in a public or abstract sense.
彼の意見を支持する人は多い。
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.
彼は事故で大けがを受けた。
He sustained serious injuries in the accident.
会社は大きな損害を受けた。
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.
彼は戦いで傷を負った。
He sustained wounds in the battle.
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.
この土地は多くの人を養える。
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.
わずかな食料で命をつないだ。
They sustained life with little food.
To confirm or uphold a decision, objection, or law as valid.
To uphold or sustain a ruling, objection, or decision. Common in legal or formal contexts.
裁判官は異議を支持した。
The judge sustained the objection.
To accept or recognize a claim or argument as valid. Less formal than 支持する in legal contexts.
裁判所はその主張を認めた。
The court sustained the claim.
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.
彼女は転んで腕を骨折した。
She sustained a broken arm in the fall.
Natural Japanese often avoids a direct equivalent of 'sustain' and simply states the injury.
会社は大きな損失を被った。
The company sustained heavy losses.
努力を続ける必要がある。
We need to sustain our efforts.
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.
水が生命を支えている。
Water sustains life.