bǎoyǎng: 保养 - To Maintain, Upkeep, Take Care Of

• Keywords: 保养, baoyang, Chinese maintenance, how to say maintain in Chinese, car maintenance in Chinese, skincare in Chinese, Chinese health upkeep, take care of in Chinese, 保养 vs 维修, upkeep in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the versatile Chinese word 保养 (bǎoyǎng), which means to maintain, upkeep, or take care of. From car maintenance (汽车保养) to daily skincare routines (皮肤保养) and preserving one's health, this essential HSK 5 term reflects a cultural emphasis on long-term care, prevention, and preservation. This guide explores its practical uses in modern China, its cultural significance, and provides clear examples to help you master this fundamental concept.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǎo yǎng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: 5
• Concise Definition: To take care of, maintain, or preserve something to keep it in good condition.
• In a Nutshell: 保养 (bǎoyǎng) is about the proactive, continuous effort to keep something in its best possible state. It's not about fixing what's broken, but about preventing it from breaking in the first place. Think of it as a disciplined routine of upkeep, whether you're talking about a car, your skin, or your overall health. It carries a sense of cherishing an object or one's well-being and investing in its longevity.

• 保 (bǎo): To protect, keep, or guarantee. Imagine a person (人) protecting or “keeping” a child (呆). It's about safeguarding something.
• 养 (yǎng): To nurture, raise, cultivate, or provide for. The character's traditional form (養) depicts providing food (食) to a sheep (羊), evoking a sense of nurturing and raising.
• When combined, 保养 (bǎoyǎng) literally means “to protect and nurture.” This perfectly captures the dual meaning of safeguarding something from harm while also actively nurturing it to keep it healthy and functional.

• In Chinese culture, 保养 (bǎoyǎng) is more than just a practical task; it's a reflection of a deeply ingrained cultural value. It ties into the principles of thrift, foresight, and valuing longevity. Rather than a “disposable” or “replace-it-when-it-breaks” mentality, there is a strong cultural appreciation for making things last.
• Comparison to Western “Maintenance”: While “maintenance” is a direct translation, 保养 (bǎoyǎng) often carries a richer, more personal connotation, especially when applied to health. The concept of 保养身体 (bǎoyǎng shēntǐ - maintaining one's body) is central to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It's not about waiting until you're sick to see a doctor; it's about the daily, disciplined practices of 养生 (yǎngshēng - nurturing life) through proper diet, exercise, and rest to maintain balance and prevent illness. This proactive approach to health is a cornerstone of Chinese wellness philosophy.
• This value extends to material goods. Taking meticulous care of a car, a leather bag, or a piece of equipment is seen as a responsible and virtuous habit, reflecting a respect for one's possessions and the resources used to acquire them.

This is the most common and direct usage, equivalent to “maintenance” or “upkeep” in English. It refers to scheduled, preventative care.

• 汽车保养 (qìchē bǎoyǎng): Car maintenance
• 机器保养 (jīqì bǎoyǎng): Machine maintenance
• 保养费 (bǎoyǎng fèi): Maintenance fee/cost

This is an extremely common usage, especially in conversations about wellness and cosmetics. It implies a routine of self-care.

• 皮肤保养 (pífū bǎoyǎng): Skincare
• 身体保养 (shēntǐ bǎoyǎng): Taking care of one's health/body
• 头发保养 (tóufa bǎoyǎng): Hair care

In a more nuanced way, 保养 can be used for less tangible things that require continuous effort to keep in good condition.

• 保养嗓子 (bǎoyǎng sǎngzi): To take care of one's voice (used by singers, teachers).
• While less common, one might hear someone talk about the need to 保养 a friendship, implying it needs regular effort and nurturing.

• Example 1:
  • 我的车每五千公里保养一次。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de chē měi wǔqiān gōnglǐ bǎoyǎng yí cì.
  • English: My car gets maintained once every 5,000 kilometers.
  • Analysis: This is a textbook example of 保养 for scheduled, preventative maintenance of a machine.
• Example 2:
  • 她每天花很多时间做皮肤保养。
  • Pinyin: Tā měitiān huā hěn duō shíjiān zuò pífū bǎoyǎng.
  • English: She spends a lot of time on her skincare routine every day.
  • Analysis: Here, 保养 refers to a daily beauty and self-care regimen. It's used as a noun here: “skincare.”
• Example 3:
  • 人到中年，就应该更注意保养身体了。
  • Pinyin: Rén dào zhōngnián, jiù yīnggāi gèng zhùyì bǎoyǎng shēntǐ le.
  • English: When you reach middle age, you should pay more attention to taking care of your health.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural idea of proactive health preservation. 保养 is about maintaining wellness over the long term.
• Example 4:
  • 这辆车的保养费用太高了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liàng chē de bǎoyǎng fèiyòng tài gāo le.
  • English: The maintenance cost for this car is too high.
  • Analysis: 保养 is used as a noun qualifier in 保养费 (bǎoyǎng fèi), a very practical term for budgeting.
• Example 5:
  • 这件皮夹克需要专业的保养。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn píjiākè xūyào zhuānyè de bǎoyǎng.
  • English: This leather jacket requires professional maintenance.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that 保养 can apply to a wide range of items, not just cars or machines.
• Example 6:
  • 作为歌手，保养嗓子是她的首要任务。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi gēshǒu, bǎoyǎng sǎngzi shì tā de shǒuyào rènwù.
  • English: As a singer, taking care of her voice is her top priority.
  • Analysis: A great example of 保养 used for a part of the body that is also a professional “tool.”
• Example 7:
  • 你有什么冬季保养皮肤的好建议吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu shénme dōngjì bǎoyǎng pífū de hǎo jiànyì ma?
  • English: Do you have any good tips for taking care of skin in the winter?
  • Analysis: Shows how 保养 is used in everyday conversation, asking for practical advice.
• Example 8:
  • 适当的运动是最好的身体保养方法。
  • Pinyin: Shìdàng de yùndòng shì zuì hǎo de shēntǐ bǎoyǎng fāngfǎ.
  • English: Appropriate exercise is the best method of health maintenance.
  • Analysis: This highlights the link between 保养 and the lifestyle choices that contribute to it.
• Example 9:
  • 我们的设备都经过了定期的保养，工作状态很好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de shèbèi dōu jīngguò le dìngqī de bǎoyǎng, gōngzuò zhuàngtài hěn hǎo.
  • English: All of our equipment has undergone regular maintenance and is in excellent working condition.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in a business or technical context. 定期保养 means “regular/scheduled maintenance.”
• Example 10:
  • 不仅仅是车，好的关系也需要用心保养。
  • Pinyin: Bùjǐnjǐn shì chē, hǎo de guānxì yě xūyào yòngxīn bǎoyǎng.
  • English: Not just cars, good relationships also need to be maintained with care.
  • Analysis: This shows the more abstract and philosophical use of 保养, emphasizing the need for continuous effort in relationships.

• 保养 (bǎoyǎng) vs. 维修 (wéixiū): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
  • 保养 (bǎoyǎng) is proactive upkeep to prevent problems. (e.g., An oil change.)
  • 维修 (wéixiū) is reactive repair to fix something that is already broken. (e.g., The engine won't start.)
  • Incorrect: ~~我的车坏了，需要保养。~~ (Wǒ de chē huài le, xūyào bǎoyǎng.) → My car is broken, it needs maintenance.
  • Correct: 我的车坏了，需要维修。(Wǒ de chē huài le, xūyào wéixiū.) → My car is broken, it needs to be repaired.
• 保养 (bǎoyǎng) vs. 保护 (bǎohù):
  • 保养 (bǎoyǎng) is nurturing something to keep it in a good state (internal focus).
  • 保护 (bǎohù) is protecting something from external harm or danger (external focus).
  • Example: You use a phone case to 保护 (bǎohù) your phone from drops. You 保养 (bǎoyǎng) its battery by not overcharging it.
• “False Friend”: Pampering. While skincare (皮肤保养) can feel like pampering, the core idea of 保养 is about disciplined, regular upkeep for the sake of long-term health and function, not just a one-off luxury or indulgence.

• 维修 (wéixiū) - To repair, to fix. The reactive counterpart to proactive 保养.
• 维护 (wéihù) - To maintain, to uphold, to safeguard. Similar to 保养, but often used for abstract things like order (`维护秩序`), peace (`维护和平`), or digital systems (`系统维护`).
• 养生 (yǎngshēng) - Health regimen, to keep in good health, to nurture life. A specific and culturally rich term that is a core part of `保养身体`. It focuses on lifestyle and diet.
• 修理 (xiūlǐ) - To repair, to fix. A more common and colloquial word for `维修`. You'd tell a friend “I need to get my bike an `修理`.”
• 爱护 (àihù) - To cherish, to treasure. Implies more emotion and affection. You `爱护` a pet, a child, or public property. You `保养` a car.
• 保健 (bǎojiàn) - Healthcare, health protection. Often found in `保健品` (bǎojiànpǐn - health supplements), this term is specifically about health.
• 护理 (hùlǐ) - To nurse, to care for. Very common in medical contexts (caring for a patient) and also for beauty routines, where `皮肤护理` (pífū hùlǐ) is a near-synonym for `皮肤保养`.