保つ|たもつtamotsu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto keep; to preserve; to hold; to retain; to maintain; to sustain
   体面たいめんを保たもつために行いった。↗

   For appearances sake, I went.
2. godan verb, intransitive verbto last; to endure; to keep well (food); to wear well; to be durable

• Synonym維持いじWrittenNoun for keeping things as they are, as in 「現状維持」; leans to written style, while 「保つ」 is an everyday verb.
• Synonym保持ほじWrittenNoun for holding on to records or titles, as in 「記録保持者」; rather formal compared with 「保つ」.
• SynonymキープNeutralLoanword for keeping or reserving something, as in 「キープする」; common in casual speech.
• Synonym存続そんぞくWrittenWritten noun for an organization or system continuing to exist, as in 「存続の危機」.
• Related続けるつづけるNeutralVerb for continuing an action without interruption; about carrying on an activity rather than holding a state.
• Related持続じぞくWrittenNoun for lasting or sustaining over time, as in 「持続可能」; stresses long continuation.
• Related継続けいぞくNeutralNoun for carrying on without interruption, as in 「継続は力なり」; stresses unbroken continuation.
• Related長持ちながもちNeutralNoun for things that last or wear well; focuses on how long an item stays in good condition.
• Related保守ほしゅNeutralNoun for servicing equipment to keep it in normal working order, or for conservative politics; 「保つ」 is the general verb for keeping any state.
• Related持つもつNeutralEveryday verb for holding or owning; also covers durability, as in 「この靴は長く持つ」.
• Related管理かんりNeutralNoun for managing with active control, as in 「健康管理」; stresses active control, not just keeping a state.
• Related保全ほぜんWrittenWritten noun for preserving something intact, as in 「環境保全」; adds a nuance of protection.
• Related守るまもるNeutralVerb for guarding or abiding by, as in 「約束を守る」; the stress is on protecting something and keeping promises or rules.
• Related続行ぞっこうWrittenWritten noun for carrying on something as planned, as in 「試合続行」.
• Related護持ごじWrittenWritten noun for cherishing and upholding, used mainly for the constitution or Buddhist law.
• Related支えるささえるNeutralVerb for propping up or sustaining from below, as in 「家計を支える」; support, physical or figurative.
• Related続くつづくNeutralIntransitive verb for a state or thing continuing on its own; focuses on the state lasting rather than being kept.
• Relatedし続けるしつづけるNeutralVerb for keeping on doing something without stopping, as in 「運動し続ける」; about ongoing action.
• Related持するじするWrittenWritten word for holding or keeping oneself, as in 「身を持する」; rarely used in modern Japanese.
• Related持ち続けるもちつづけるNeutralVerb for holding on to or keeping something over a long stretch; stresses long duration.
• Antonym壊すこわすNeutralAntonym: to break or destroy something, the opposite of keeping it intact.
• Antonym失ううしなうNeutralAntonym: to lose something you had, as in 「信用を失う」; opposite of 「保つ」 in the keeping sense.
• Antonym崩すくずすNeutralAntonym: to break up or throw something off balance, the opposite of keeping things stable.

Use 「保つ」 to keep a state unchanged, as in 「健康を保つ」 or 「距離を保つ」. In written prose 「維持」 fits keeping the status quo, 「保持」 suits records and titles, and casual speech often uses 「キープ」. For continuing an action pick 「続ける」, for lasting over time 「持続」. To break or destroy, use 「壊す」 or 「崩す」.

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

1. ある状態じょうたいを変かえずに続つづける。維持いじする。
2. よい状態じょうたいを保持ほじする。そこなわないようにする。
3. ある状態じょうたいが変かわらずに続つづく。もつ。