持続

じぞく

continuation, endurance

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 持続 (じぞく) means "continuation" or "endurance." It is often used in formal or academic contexts to describe the ongoing state or persistence of something over time.

Common Contexts

持続 is frequently used in scientific, environmental, and medical discussions, such as 持続時間 (duration), 持続可能 (sustainable), and 持続力 (endurance or stamina).

Collocations and Patterns

  • 持続時間: duration of time something lasts
  • 持続可能: sustainable, capable of being maintained
  • 持続力: endurance or stamina

These collocations help express how long something continues or the ability to maintain a state.

Register and Nuance

持続 is a formal noun and is rarely used in casual conversation. It often appears in written language, reports, and formal speeches. When speaking casually, people might use words like 続く (つづく) or 続ける (つづける) instead.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 持続 with 続く or 続ける, which are verbs meaning "to continue." 持続 is a noun and should be used with verbs like する (to do) to form 持続する (to continue/endure). For example, 持続する努力 means "efforts that continue."

Example Sentences

このくすりはこうかのじぞくじかんがながいです。

This medicine has a long duration of effect.

じぞくかのうなかいはつがせかいてきにもとめられている。

Sustainable development is being demanded worldwide.

かれのどりょくはせいこうのじぞくにつながった。

His efforts led to the continuation of success.