How to say "sustain" in Japanese

• 支えるささえるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'sustain' in the sense of bearing weight or holding something up, whether a physical structure or something abstract like a person's life or an economy. The nuance is active support from beneath or behind.
  このくらいの収穫量しゅうかくりょうでは、そこの経済けいざいを支ささえるのに十分じゅうぶんではありません。↗

  That amount of crops isn't enough to support their economy.
• 保つたもつJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'sustain' in the sense of maintaining a state or condition, such as keeping health, balance, or growth at the same level. Here the idea is preservation and continuation, not bearing weight.
  体面たいめんを保たもつために行いった。↗

  For appearances sake, I went.

Use 「支える」 when 'sustain' means physically or figuratively holding something up, and 「保つ」 when it means keeping a state, level, or condition going without change.

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

• 支えるささえるto support
• 保つたもつto keep
• 被るこうむるto suffer
• サスティーンsustain
• 負うおうto suffer (an injury)
• うけるto sustain (damage)
• のびelongation