A2 verb 3 min read

坚持运动

To continue doing physical activity regularly over a long period of time.

jiānchí yùndòng

Explanation at your level:

If you stick to exercising, you do it every day or every week. You do not stop! It is good for your body. You can say: 'I want to stick to exercising for my health.'

To stick to exercising means you have a plan and you follow it. Even if you are busy, you find time to move. It is a great way to stay strong and happy.

When you stick to exercising, you show consistency. Many people start a sport but quit quickly. If you stick to it, you are showing discipline. It is a common phrase used when talking about New Year's resolutions or weight loss journeys.

The phrase stick to exercising implies overcoming the natural tendency to be sedentary. It suggests a conscious effort to maintain a routine despite external pressures. It is often used in advice columns or motivational contexts to encourage perseverance.

Using stick to exercising signifies a commitment to a long-term lifestyle modification. It highlights the psychological aspect of habit formation, where the individual manages to bypass the 'friction' of starting a workout. It is nuanced, suggesting that the act of exercising is not just physical, but a test of character.

To stick to exercising is to engage in a disciplined pursuit of physical optimization. It reflects a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between habituation and health. In literary or high-level discourse, it serves as a metaphor for the broader human struggle to maintain consistency in any long-term endeavor, from artistic practice to professional development.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • It means to continue a habit.
  • Use 'to' + -ing.
  • It is a common phrase.
  • It shows discipline.

When we say stick to exercising, we are talking about the art of consistency. It is not just about doing one workout; it is about persistence. Think of it as a promise you make to your body to keep moving, even when you feel tired or busy.

This phrase is incredibly common because discipline is often the hardest part of fitness. Whether you are hitting the gym, going for a run, or practicing yoga, the act of 'sticking to it' is what actually leads to real health results. It is a friendly way of saying you are committed to your health journey.

The word stick comes from Old English stician, which originally meant to pierce or stab. Over centuries, it evolved to mean 'to remain attached' or 'to hold fast,' which is how we use it today when we talk about habits.

Exercising finds its roots in the Latin exercitium, meaning training or practice. Historically, this was used for military training. Combining these, we get a modern idiom that blends the ancient idea of physical training with the stubborn, glue-like quality of 'sticking' to a goal. It reflects our modern cultural obsession with self-improvement and long-term health maintenance.

You will hear this in both casual and semi-formal settings. It is perfect for talking to friends about fitness goals or discussing health with a doctor. Common collocations include 'hard to stick to exercising' or 'manage to stick to exercising'.

The register is generally informal to neutral. You wouldn't use it in a highly technical medical paper, but it is perfect for a blog post, a conversation at the office, or a motivational chat with a gym buddy. It emphasizes the effort behind the action.

1. Go the extra mile: Doing more than expected in your workout. 2. Get into the swing of things: Finally feeling comfortable with your routine. 3. Burn the candle at both ends: Working too hard and struggling to find time for exercise. 4. Keep your eye on the prize: Staying focused on your fitness goals. 5. Break a sweat: Actually doing the hard work involved in exercising.

This is a phrasal verb construction followed by a gerund. It follows the pattern: Subject + stick + to + verb-ing. Note that 'to' here is a preposition, which is why it must be followed by the -ing form of the verb.

Pronunciation (US): /stɪk tuː ˈeksəsaɪzɪŋ/. The stress is on 'stick' and the first syllable of 'exercising'. It rhymes loosely with 'pick' and 'clicking'. Remember to keep the 'to' sound light and unstressed in natural speech.

Fun Fact

The word 'stick' has been in English since before the 12th century.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /stɪk tuː ˈeksəsaɪzɪŋ/

Crisp 't' sounds.

US /stɪk tuː ˈeksəsaɪzɪŋ/

Flap 't' in exercising.

Common Errors

  • missing the 'to'
  • mispronouncing 'exercise'
  • stressing the wrong syllable

Rhymes With

pick kick slick thick quick

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy

Writing 2/5

Easy

Speaking 2/5

Easy

Listening 2/5

Easy

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

exercise stick

Learn Next

consistency discipline

Advanced

perseverance

Grammar to Know

Gerunds after prepositions

Stick to exercising

Examples by Level

1

I stick to exercising every day.

I keep doing it.

Simple present

2

She wants to stick to exercising.

She has a goal.

Infinitive

3

We stick to exercising together.

Partners.

Subject-verb agreement

4

Can you stick to exercising?

Question.

Modal verb

5

They stick to exercising at home.

Location.

Prepositional phrase

6

I will stick to exercising.

Future plan.

Future tense

7

Did you stick to exercising?

Past question.

Past tense

8

He helps me stick to exercising.

Support.

Verb pattern

1

I find it hard to stick to exercising in winter.

2

She managed to stick to exercising for a month.

3

It is important to stick to exercising regularly.

4

My goal is to stick to exercising three times a week.

5

They decided to stick to exercising until they felt fit.

6

You should try to stick to exercising every morning.

7

We always stick to exercising even when we are tired.

8

He asked me how to stick to exercising better.

1

It takes a lot of willpower to stick to exercising when you are busy.

2

I have been trying to stick to exercising, but I keep getting distracted.

3

Sticking to exercising is the secret to seeing real results.

4

If you want to improve your stamina, you must stick to exercising.

5

She gave me some tips on how to stick to exercising consistently.

6

Most people fail to stick to exercising because they set goals too high.

7

I am proud that I managed to stick to exercising throughout the summer.

8

He found that joining a club helped him stick to exercising.

1

The challenge isn't starting a routine, but learning how to stick to exercising long-term.

2

Even professional athletes find it difficult to stick to exercising during the off-season.

3

Consistency is key; you have to stick to exercising to reap the cardiovascular benefits.

4

Many fitness apps are designed specifically to help users stick to exercising.

5

Despite his demanding schedule, he somehow manages to stick to exercising daily.

6

Sticking to exercising requires a shift in mindset rather than just physical effort.

7

I've realized that I need a training partner to help me stick to exercising.

8

She wrote a book about the psychological barriers that prevent people from sticking to exercising.

1

The efficacy of any fitness regimen is predicated on one's ability to stick to exercising over a prolonged duration.

2

He articulated the difficulties of trying to stick to exercising while managing a high-stress career.

3

Sticking to exercising is a testament to one's self-discipline and commitment to longevity.

4

The study examines the behavioral patterns that enable individuals to successfully stick to exercising.

5

It is a common misconception that motivation alone is enough to stick to exercising; habit is the true driver.

6

She explored the philosophical implications of the struggle to stick to exercising in a sedentary society.

7

The coach emphasized that the primary hurdle for beginners is learning how to stick to exercising.

8

To stick to exercising is to engage in a form of self-care that transcends mere physical vanity.

1

The discipline required to stick to exercising is often analogous to the rigor found in artistic or intellectual pursuits.

2

One must cultivate a stoic resolve if one expects to stick to exercising amidst the vicissitudes of daily life.

3

The capacity to stick to exercising serves as a proxy for one's broader ability to maintain long-term commitments.

4

In our hyper-convenient age, the deliberate choice to stick to exercising is a radical act of self-preservation.

5

The narrative of the 'fit individual' is often built upon the quiet, uncelebrated labor of learning to stick to exercising.

6

He posited that the modern malaise is partially remedied by the simple, repetitive act of sticking to exercising.

7

The internal dialogue that occurs when one attempts to stick to exercising is a fascinating subject for behavioral psychologists.

8

Ultimately, the decision to stick to exercising is an investment in the architecture of one's future self.

Common Collocations

hard to stick to
manage to stick to
struggle to stick to
help someone stick to
decide to stick to
fail to stick to
need to stick to
try to stick to
keep trying to stick to
ways to stick to

Idioms & Expressions

"fall off the wagon"

to stop a good habit

I fell off the wagon with my exercise.

casual

"get back on track"

to restart a good habit

I need to get back on track with exercising.

neutral

"take the bull by the horns"

to face a challenge directly

Take the bull by the horns and start exercising.

idiomatic

"hit the ground running"

to start something with energy

I hit the ground running with my new routine.

casual

"slow and steady wins the race"

consistency is better than speed

Remember, slow and steady wins the race when exercising.

proverbial

"make a go of it"

to try hard to succeed

I am really making a go of it with my daily runs.

casual

Easily Confused

坚持运动 vs stick with

similar meaning

stick with is for people/things, stick to is for habits

Stick with me / Stick to exercising

坚持运动 vs keep on

similar meaning

keep on is more general

Keep on running

坚持运动 vs carry on

similar meaning

carry on is more formal

Carry on with your work

坚持运动 vs persist

formal synonym

persist is much more formal

Persist in your efforts

Sentence Patterns

B1

I find it hard to stick to exercising.

I find it hard to stick to exercising.

A2

You should stick to exercising.

You should stick to exercising.

B1

It helps me stick to exercising.

It helps me stick to exercising.

A2

Try to stick to exercising daily.

Try to stick to exercising daily.

B2

I managed to stick to exercising.

I managed to stick to exercising.

Word Family

Nouns

exercise physical activity

Verbs

exercise to perform activity

Adjectives

exercisable capable of being used

Related

fitness the goal of exercising

How to Use It

frequency

7

Formality Scale

Formal: Adhere to a regimen Neutral: Stick to exercising Casual: Keep it up

Common Mistakes

stick exercising stick to exercising
You need the preposition 'to'.
stick to exercise stick to exercising
Use the gerund after 'to'.
sticking to exercise sticking to exercising
Consistency requires the gerund.
stick on exercising stick to exercising
The correct preposition is 'to'.
stuck to exercise stuck to exercising
Past tense requires the gerund form.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a sticky note on your gym bag.

💡

Native Speakers

Used when encouraging friends.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Health is a big topic in English.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Remember: Preposition + -ing.

💡

Say It Right

Focus on the 'st' sound.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't forget the 'to'.

💡

Did You Know?

Sticking is about habit.

💡

Study Smart

Use it in a sentence daily.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

STICK to your goal like GLUE.

Visual Association

A person glued to a treadmill.

Word Web

Health Discipline Routine Energy

Challenge

Do one exercise for 5 minutes today.

Word Origin

Germanic/Latin

Original meaning: To pierce/To train

Cultural Context

None

Very common in health-conscious cultures like the US/UK.

Nike 'Just Do It' campaigns Fitness influencers on YouTube

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Gym

  • Stick to exercising
  • Keep going
  • Good job

Doctor's Office

  • Stick to exercising
  • Heart health
  • Routine

New Year

  • Stick to exercising
  • Resolution
  • Goal

Work

  • Stick to exercising
  • Stress relief
  • Balance

Conversation Starters

"How do you stick to exercising?"

"Is it hard to stick to exercising?"

"What helps you stick to exercising?"

"Do you stick to exercising in winter?"

"Why is it important to stick to exercising?"

Journal Prompts

Write about your exercise routine.

Why is it hard to stick to exercising?

How do you feel when you stick to exercising?

What is your goal for exercising?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, use 'exercising'.

It is neutral.

Start small.

Yes, very similar.

Yes, 'stick to studying'.

Yes.

Because of the preposition 'to'.

Very.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

I want to ___ to exercising.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: stick

The phrase is 'stick to'.

multiple choice A2

What does 'stick to' mean here?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: continue

It means to continue.

true false B1

Is 'stick to exercise' correct?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It should be 'stick to exercising'.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Synonyms.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Correct structure.

Score: /5

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