Meaning
坚持
jiān chí
Persistence
- 坚
- firm, solid
- 持
- to hold
To hold firm and keep going: the everyday word.
Persistence in Chinese
The Chinese word for persistence is 坚持 (jiān chí). To hold firm and keep going: the everyday word. In traditional characters it is written 堅持.
坚持
jiān chí
Persistence
What 坚持 means.
坚 is firm and 持 is to hold, so 坚持 means to hold on firmly. 坚持就是胜利, “to persist is to win”, is a favourite saying for anyone going through hard times.
- 坚
- firm, solid
- 持
- to hold
Simplified and traditional
坚持
堅持
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 堅持 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 坚持 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
Pick the shade of meaning.
Chinese often has more than one word where English has one. Here is how they differ.
Meaning
恒心
héng xīn
Perseverance
- 恒
- constant, lasting
- 心
- heart, mind
A constant heart that does not give up.
About persistence in Chinese
How do you write persistence in Chinese?
Persistence is 坚持 in Chinese, pronounced jiān chí. Persistence 坚 means “firm, solid”, 持 means “to hold”.
How do you pronounce 坚持?
Say jiān (first tone, high and level), chí (second tone, rising). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 坚持 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 堅持, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 坚持 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
What other Chinese words mean persistence?
恒心 (héng xīn): Perseverance A constant heart that does not give up.
Is 坚持 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.