sustain
/səˈsteɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈsteɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈstān/ (ame, mw)
sustain — 動詞
- sustainpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sustainshe / she / it
- sustainedpast simple
- sustaining-ing form
1. to make something go on happening or stay at the same level without dropping
維持
使持續保持同樣水平
to make something go on happening or stay at the same level without dropping
The team sustained their lead throughout the second half of the game.
該球隊在比賽下半場維持住領先優勢。
sustain + lead / advantage
Despite the crisis, the company sustained its regular payments to shareholders.
儘管發生危機，該公司仍維持對股東的定期付款。
Tariq found it hard to sustain a conversation with so many people talking at once.
Tariq 發現有那麼多人同時說話，他很難維持一段對話。
The school's music programme was sustained entirely by donations from local families.
這所學校的音樂課程完全靠當地家庭捐款才得以維持。
Sofie's interest in photography was sustained by her weekly trips to new places.
Sofie 對攝影的興趣是靠每週到新地方旅行才維持下來的。
- stop
general opposite
- discontinue
formal; used in business or official contexts
- drop
informal; suggests a sudden end
文法句型
sustain + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with abstract nouns such as growth, interest, conversation, effort, or lead. Frequently appears in formal or business contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to give a living thing enough food, water, or other basic things so that it stay
養活；供養
提供足夠的食物與必需品
to give a living thing enough food, water, or other basic things so that it stays alive
The refugees had just enough rice and water to sustain them for a few weeks.
難民僅靠足夠的米和水勉強養活自己幾個星期。
sustain + person/group + with necessities
These wide grasslands sustain large herds of wild animals through the dry season.
這片廣闊的草原在旱季養活了成群的大型野生動物。
Gabriel's small vegetable garden helped sustain his family during the long winter.
Gabriel 的小菜園在漫長的冬天幫助養活了他的家人。
The river delta sustains a rich variety of birds, fish, and plant life.
這片河流三角洲養活了種類繁多的鳥類、魚類和植物。
文法句型
sustain + person/animal/plant
用法筆記
The subject is typically a food supply, water source, ecosystem, or resource. The object is a living thing or a group.
常見錯誤
3. to experience something painful, harmful, or damaging, such as an injury, a loss
遭受；蒙受
經歷傷害或損失
to experience something painful, harmful, or damaging, such as an injury, a loss, or defeat
The company sustained heavy losses during the economic downturn last year.
該公司在去年的經濟蕭條期間遭受了重大損失。
sustain + losses / damage / injury
Several buildings in the village sustained serious damage in the earthquake.
村裡有幾棟建築物在地震中遭受了嚴重損壞。
The player sustained a shoulder injury during the final match of the season.
該選手在季末決賽中遭受了肩膀受傷。
The senator's reputation sustained lasting damage after the scandal broke.
醜聞曝光後，這位參議員的名譽遭受了持久的損害。
Beatriz sustained a broken ankle when she slipped on the icy front steps.
Beatriz 在結冰的門前台階上滑倒，腳踝骨折。
- suffer
more general; can be used with or without an object
- undergo
suggests a process or change over time
- experience
neutral; works for positive or negative situations
- avoid
to prevent something bad from happening
文法句型
sustain + damage/loss/injury
用法筆記
Commonly appears with negative nouns: loss, damage, injury, defeat, setback. Not used for positive experiences — you cannot sustain a win or a gift.
常見錯誤
4. to give someone the emotional strength or encouragement needed to get through a
支持；鼓勵
給予情感上的力量
to give someone the emotional strength or encouragement needed to get through a difficult time
Her friends' encouragement sustained Stephanie through the long months of recovery.
朋友們的鼓勵支持 Stephanie 度過了漫長的康復期。
sustain + person + through + difficult period
The hope of seeing his family again sustained Cole during his years in prison.
再次見到家人的希望在 Cole 多年的獄中生活中支撐著他。
A deep faith in their purpose sustained the volunteers through many setbacks.
對自身使命的堅定信念支持志工們度過了許多挫折。
The letters from her former students sustained the teacher during her long illness.
學生們寄來的信在老師長期生病期間支持著她。
- support
more general; covers emotional, practical, and financial help
- encourage
more active; giving direct reassurance
- strengthen
focuses on building inner resilience
- discourage
to take away hope or confidence
- demoralise
to cause a loss of spirit or confidence
文法句型
sustain + person (emotionally)
用法筆記
Often describes how hope, faith, friendship, or encouragement helps someone endure hardship. Frequently used with the preposition through.
5. to hold up the weight of something physically, keeping it from falling or breaki
支撐；承載
承受重量不讓倒塌
to hold up the weight of something physically, keeping it from falling or breaking
The old wooden beams can no longer sustain the weight of the heavy roof.
舊的木樑已經無法再支撐沉重的屋頂。
sustain + weight / load / pressure
The bridge was designed to sustain the weight of heavy truck traffic.
這座橋的設計能夠承載重型卡車通行的重量。
Jack tested whether the ice was thick enough to sustain a person's weight.
Jack 測試了冰層是否夠厚，足以支撐一個人的體重。
Steel pillars sustain the upper floors of the skyscraper against strong winds.
鋼柱支撐著摩天大樓的上層樓板，抵禦強風。
- collapse
to fall down under pressure
文法句型
sustain + weight / load / pressure
用法筆記
Typically used for structures, surfaces, and materials. Unlike support, sustain in this sense emphasises that the item does not break or give way under the load.
6. to decide or state that a claim, argument, or legal decision is correct, valid,
確認；支持
認定為正確或有法律效力
to decide or state that a claim, argument, or legal decision is correct, valid, or acceptable
The appeals court sustained the lower court's ruling on the property dispute.
上訴法院維持了下級法院對該財產糾紛的裁決。
legal: sustain + ruling / objection / appeal
The judge sustained the objection, and the statement was removed from the record.
法官支持了異議，該陳述被從法庭記錄中刪除。
Saira's lawyer argued that the available evidence was enough to sustain the charges.
Saira 的律師主張現有證據足以支持這些指控。
The review committee sustained the professor's appeal against the earlier decision.
審查委員會支持了該教授對先前決定的上訴。
文法句型
sustain + objection/ruling/claim/argument
用法筆記
Very common in legal language. Courts sustain objections, rulings, appeals, and convictions. In academic or formal settings, evidence or arguments can sustain a theory or position.
常見錯誤
sustain — 名詞
- sustainsingular
- sustainsplural
1. the quality or effect of a musical note that continues for a long time, or the t
延音
音符持續延長的效果
the quality or effect of a musical note that continues for a long time, or the technique used to produce this
The guitarist used a special pedal to give the final note a long, rich sustain.
吉他手使用特殊效果器讓最後一個音符產生悠長而飽滿的延音。
musical sustain + instrument + pedal
Yuki pressed the piano key and let the sustain ring out for several full seconds.
Yuki 按下鋼琴琴鍵，讓延音持續響了好幾秒。
The cello's sustain filled the concert hall with a deep, warm sound that lingered.
大提琴的延音讓音樂廳充滿了低沉溫暖、久久不散的聲音。
Cole adjusted the amp settings to get a cleaner sustain on his electric guitar.
Cole 調整了音箱設定，讓電吉他的延音更乾淨。
- resonance
broader; refers to the quality of sound echoing or vibrating
- continuation
general; not specific to music
用法筆記
Used mainly in music discussions about guitar, piano, and other instruments. Often refers to the effect created by a sustain pedal on a piano or a sustain effect on an electric guitar.