保持をする

You use this phrase with a noun and the particle を. It often appears in technical or professional settings. You’ll see it in sports news about records. You’ll hear it in science labs about temperatures. It’s a 'kango' word, meaning it sounds a bit smart. Use it when the 'keeping' part takes some effort.

Use it when discussing a high score in a game. Use it at work when talking about market share. It’s great for health contexts, like maintaining a certain weight. If you are keeping a secret or data, this works too. It’s perfect for when you want to sound precise. Think of it as the 'professional' version of keeping.

Don't use this for physical objects in your hand. If you're holding a coffee cup, use 持つ. If you're keeping a promise, use 守る. It’s too heavy for casual daily favors. Don't tell a friend to 'retain' your umbrella while you pee. That would sound like a weird science experiment.

Japan deeply values the concept of longevity and preservation. Whether it's a 1,000-year-old temple or a family recipe. This phrase reflects the effort put into keeping things perfect. In a society that values stability, 保持 is a very positive action. It shows respect for the original state of things.

The most common version is just 保持する. Adding the を makes it slightly more formal or emphatic. You might also hear 維持する which is very similar. 維持 is more about 'maintenance' (like a car). 保持 is more about 'retaining' (like a title or a state).