Meaning

Primary

To Preserve Something

Alternatives

To Keep Something, To Maintain Something

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means preserve and the verb vocab version is to preserve something, to keep something, or to maintain something.

This is a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object. You preserve something, like your youth.

Reading

たもつ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

If you want to learn how to preserve something like fruits and veggies, you should start with tamots (たも), that's slang for delish tomatoes. Once they're preserved, you get to make everyone you love eat those yummy tamots. Mmm!

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 180度に保つ

    to keep at 180 degrees

    水平に保つ

    to keep level

    きれいに保つ

    to keep clean

Context Sentences

体力を保つには毎日トレーニングしなくてはいけません。

To keep your physical strength, you have to train every day.

元気な心を保つために、ヨガやメディテーションをします。

I do yoga and meditation to maintain a healthy heart.

ヘルシーな生活を送って、今の体重を保ちたいと思います。

I want to live a healthy life and maintain my current weight.

Kanji Composition