保存
bǎo cún HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

请保存好这些文件。
Qǐng bǎocún hǎo zhèxiē wénjiàn.
Please preserve these documents well.
他保存了很多老照片。
Tā bǎocún le hěnduō lǎo zhàopiàn.
He has preserved many old photos.
食物需要保存在冰箱里。
Shíwù xūyào bǎocún zài bīngxiāng lǐ.
Food needs to be kept in the refrigerator.
请保存文件。
Qǐng bǎocún wénjiàn.
Please save the file.
他保存了照片。
Tā bǎocúnle zhàopiàn.
He saved the photos.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 保 (bǎo) means 'to protect' and 存 (cún) means 'to store.' Think of it as 'protect-store'—you protect something by storing it safely, like saving a computer file to preserve your work.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in register, used in both formal and informal contexts, and common in written and spoken Chinese. It is frequently used in contexts like computer operations (saving files), museum conservation (preserving artifacts), and daily life (keeping items safe).

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a transitive verb followed by an object (e.g., 保存文件). Can be modified by adverbs like 好好 (hǎohǎo, carefully) or 自动 (zìdòng, automatically). Also appears in resultative complements like 保存好 (save properly).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 保存 reflects values of prudence and foresight, such as in preserving historical documents or family heirlooms. In digital contexts, it aligns with the emphasis on diligence in work or study, as seen in reminders to save files to avoid loss.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 保护 (bǎohù, to protect), which focuses on shielding from harm, 保存 emphasizes keeping something intact without change. Compared to 存储 (cúnchǔ, to store), which is more about placing items in a location, 保存 has a stronger sense of preservation and maintenance.

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