持ちこたえる・持ち堪える・持堪える|もちこたえるmochikotaeru[5]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
持ちこたえる持ちこたえる is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners.
持ち堪える持ち堪える is a less common written variant of 持ちこたえる; beginners should normally choose 持ちこたえる.
持堪える持堪える is the least common of these written forms; learners may encounter it, but should use 持ちこたえる by default.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto hold out (e.g. against an attack); to hang on; to withstand; to endure; to last
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 持ちこたえる（もちこたえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 持ちこたえます（もちこたえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 持ちこたえない（もちこたえない） |
| polite (masen) | 持ちこたえません（もちこたえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 持ちこたえず・持ちこたえぬ（もちこたえず・もちこたえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 持ちこたえた（もちこたえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 持ちこたえました（もちこたえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 持ちこたえなかった（もちこたえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 持ちこたえませんでした（もちこたえませんでした） |
| Te form | 持ちこたえて（もちこたえて） |
| Potential | 持ちこたえられる（もちこたえられる） |
| Passive | 持ちこたえられる（もちこたえられる） |
| Causative | 持ちこたえさせる（もちこたえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 持ちこたえさせられる（もちこたえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 持ちこたえれば（もちこたえれば） |
| tara | 持ちこたえたら（もちこたえたら） |
| Volitional | 持ちこたえよう（もちこたえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 持ちこたえましょう（もちこたえましょう） |
| Imperative | 持ちこたえろ（もちこたえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym耐えるたえるNeutralEndures pain or pressure and withstands outside forces, as in 「風雪に耐える」; 「持ちこたえる」 focuses on holding a situation steady so it does not worsen.
- Synonym踏ん張るふんばるCasualColloquial. Holding on by planting your feet and gritting it out, with a strong sense of physical effort, as in 「もうひと踏ん張り」.
- Synonym踏みこたえるふみこたえるWrittenWritten register. Standing your ground under pressure without retreating; close in use to 「持ちこたえる」.
- Related乗り切るのりきるNeutralGetting through a difficulty to the far side, as in 「危機を乗り切る」; result-oriented, while 「持ちこたえる」 is about holding out.
- Related辛抱しんぼうNeutralPatience and bearing hardship, as in 「辛抱強い」 or 「もう少し辛抱して」; common in speech as well.
- Related我慢がまんNeutralAn everyday word for enduring pain or restraining your desires; the focus is self-restraint, not holding a situation together.
- Related頑張るがんばるCasualColloquial. Trying hard and refusing to give up; the broadest in range here, reaching far beyond holding out.
- Related粘るねばるCasualColloquial. Persisting tenaciously, refusing to let go, as in 「最後まで粘る」.
- Related堪忍かんにんWrittenWritten register. Holding back anger and pardoning someone; about tolerance and forgiveness rather than holding out.
- Antonym耐えられないNeutralCannot bear it any longer, cannot keep going; the opposite of 「持ちこたえる」's holding out.
- Antonym持ちこたえられないNeutralCannot hold out — the situation can no longer be kept from getting worse; the direct negative of 「持ちこたえる」.
Use 「持ちこたえる」 for holding out without collapsing under attack, pressure, or illness, as in 「天気が持ちこたえる」 or 「最後まで持ちこたえた」. For endurance in general choose 「耐える」; for getting through a crisis choose 「乗り切る」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
