barely support; hold out
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to barely hold on; to sustain with difficulty
formalDescribes maintaining a difficult or precarious situation through great effort, often against pressure or adversity. Can be used for both tangible and abstract contexts.
Gōng公
sī司
miàn面
lín临
dǎo倒
bì闭
，
tā他
yī一
gè个
rén人
kǔ苦
kǔ苦
chēng撑
chí持
。
The company was facing bankruptcy, and he alone was struggling to keep it afloat.
Tā她
kào靠
jiān坚
qiáng强
de的
yì意
zhì志
chēng撑
chí持
zhe着
bìng病
ruò弱
de的
shēn身
tǐ体
。
She is sustaining her sickly body with sheer willpower.
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Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
jiàng将
réng仍
zài在
qiú球
chǎng场
shàng上
chēng撑
chí持
，
lìng令
rén人
jìng敬
pèi佩
。
This veteran is still holding out on the court, which is admirable.
Zhěng整
gè个
jiā家
tíng庭
jiù就
kào靠
tā他
wēi微
bó薄
de的
shōu收
rù入
chēng撑
chí持
zhe着
。
The entire family is barely supported by his meager income.