How to say "maintain" in Japanese

• キープCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, nounA loanword covering 'maintain' in the sense of keeping a situation, standard, or position unchanged — keeping the lead in a game, keeping a standard from slipping. It suggests holding what you already have.
  ＯＥＣＤの調査ちょうさで北欧ほくおう諸国しょこくが税率ぜいりつにおいて世界せかいの上位じょういをキープした。↗

  In the OECD survey, northern European countries are keeping their high ranking in tax-rates.
• 養うやしなうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbFor 'maintain' in the sense of supporting a person, such as providing for one's family. It is not the word for maintaining objects or conditions; use まかなう for supplying the needed money or goods.
• 保つたもつJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe default choice for 'maintain' in the sense of keeping a condition, state, or level unchanged — preserving health, order, quality, or peace. Use it to keep something that exists as it is.
  体面たいめんを保たもつために行いった。↗

  For appearances sake, I went.
• 構えるかまえるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbSeldom the word you want for 'maintain': it really means to set up, establish, or run a house, store, or similar establishment, and fits 'maintain' only in that sense.
  彼かれはジャマイカに住居じゅうきょを構かまえた。↗

  He took up residence in Jamaica.
• まかなうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'maintain' in the sense of providing what is needed — supplying the money or goods to keep, for example, a family going; hence 'cover costs' and 'finance'. Usually written in kana alone.
  彼かれのプロジェクトは助成金じょせいきんでまかなわれていた。↗

  His project was funded by grants.

Choose 「保つ」 to keep a condition, state, or level unchanged; 「キープ」 for holding on to a situation, standard, or lead; 「養う」 and 「まかなう」 for supporting people or covering their needs; 「構える」 only for running an establishment.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• キープto keep (e.g. the lead)
• 養うやしなうto support
• 保つたもつto keep
• 構えるかまえるto set up (a house, store, etc.)
• まかなうto supply (goods, money, etc.)
• 存置そんちmaintain
• 保ち続けるたもちつづけるto maintain
• 持するじするto hold
• 持ち続けるもちつづけるto continue to hold
• 言い立てるいいたてるto assert
• 持つもつto maintain
• つなぐto maintain
• 貫くつらぬくto stick to (opinion, principles, etc.)
• 貫き通すつらぬきとおすto stick to (opinion, principles, etc.)