存続

そんぞく

duration, continuance

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"存続" (そんぞく) refers to the continued existence or survival of something over time. It is often used in formal contexts such as business, culture, or environmental discussions.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see "存続" used when talking about the survival of companies, organizations, cultural traditions, or even the planet. It implies a concern about whether something will continue to exist or not.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 会社の存続 (company's survival): used in business contexts to discuss whether a company will continue operating.
  • 文化の存続 (cultural continuation): used when discussing the preservation of cultural heritage.
  • 存続が危ぶまれる (survival is in jeopardy): a common phrase expressing concern about continuation.

Register and Nuance

"存続" is a formal noun and is often found in written or formal spoken Japanese. It is not typically used in casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "存続" with "続く" (つづく), which means "to continue" but is a verb. Remember that "存続" is a noun focusing on the state or fact of continuing existence, often in a formal or institutional sense.

Example Sentences

かいしゃのそんぞくがあやぶまれている。

The company's survival is in jeopardy.

ぶんかのそんぞくにはでんとうのけいしょうがじゅうようだ。

The continuation of culture depends on the inheritance of traditions.

かんきょうほごはちきゅうのそんぞくにかかわるもんだいだ。

Environmental protection is an issue related to the survival of the Earth.