How to Write 持 (chí) — Meaning “to hold; to maintain”

Imagine your hand (扌) is holding a temple (寺) steady — you need to maintain it carefully. The radical shows the hand action, and 寺 sounds like 'sustain' in English, helping you remember the meaning 'to hold' or 'to maintain'.

The left radical 扌 has three strokes: horizontal, vertical hook, and a short diagonal lift — do not curve the last stroke. The right part 寺 has six strokes: start with a horizontal, then a vertical hook, then a cross, and finally a small horizontal and a dot; keep the whole character balanced and not too wide.

持 means 'to hold' or 'maintain', using the hand to keep something steady. 扭 (niǔ) means 'to twist' or 'turn', with a different hand motion. Visual difference: 持 has 寺 on the right, while 扭 has 丑 (chǒu) on the right — a curved shape suggesting twisting.

持 appears in common words like 支持 (to support), 坚持 (to persist), and 保持 (to maintain) — all about holding a state or action. In Chinese culture, 坚持 (persistence) is a highly valued virtue, often used in motivational contexts and idioms.

Common words containing 持 include: 支持 (zhī chí) — to support; to back; 坚持 (jiān chí) — persist / persevere / insist; 保持 (bǎo chí) — maintain; keep.