可持续 in 30 Seconds
- Sustainable; able to last long-term.
- Key phrase: 可持续发展 (Sustainable Development).
- Used for environment, economy, and lifestyle.
- Opposite: 不可持续 (Unsustainable).
The term 可持续 (kě chí xù) is a modern Chinese adjective that translates directly to 'sustainable.' In a linguistic sense, it is a compound of two distinct parts: 可 (kě), meaning 'can' or 'able to,' and 持续 (chí xù), meaning 'to continue' or 'to persist.' Together, they describe a state or method that is capable of being maintained over a long duration without exhausting resources or causing irreparable damage. While it is most famously associated with environmental science, its application spans economics, social policy, and personal lifestyle management.
- Literal Breakdown
- 可 (Able) + 持 (Hold/Maintain) + 续 (Continue). It literally means 'able to hold and continue.'
- Modern Context
- Predominantly used in the phrase 'Sustainable Development' (可持续发展), a cornerstone of global policy since the late 20th century.
- Semantic Range
- Covers environmental health, financial viability, and the longevity of social systems.
“我们需要寻找一种可持续的生活方式，以保护我们的地球。” (We need to find a sustainable way of life to protect our planet.)
In the 21st century, this word has moved from academic papers into everyday conversation. You might hear a CEO talking about sustainable growth or a friend talking about a sustainable diet. It implies a balance between current needs and future possibilities. If something is not '可持续', it is '一锤子买卖' (a one-off deal) or '竭泽而渔' (fishing by draining the pond)—idioms that describe the opposite of sustainability.
这种商业模式是不可持续的，因为它的成本太高了。
我们要走可持续发展的道路。
利用太阳能是一种可持续的能源方案。
Using 可持续 correctly requires understanding its role as an attributive adjective, meaning it almost always modifies a noun. It is rarely used as a standalone predicate without a degree adverb or a specific context. The most common structure is 可持续 + (的) + Noun.
- Grammar Pattern 1
- 可持续 + 发展 (Development). This is the most frequent pairing in Chinese media.
- Grammar Pattern 2
- 不可持续 (Unsustainable). Adding '不' (bù) before '可持续' is the standard way to express that something cannot last.
When you want to say 'sustainably,' you often use the adverbial form 可持续地 (kě chí xù de). For example, '可持续地利用资源' (to use resources sustainably). It is important to note that '可持续' is a formal word. In casual settings, people might use '长久' (cháng jiǔ - long-lasting), but in any professional, academic, or environmental context, '可持续' is the required term.
You will encounter 可持续 in several specific environments. Understanding these contexts helps in recognizing the 'vibe' of the word.
- News and Politics: During the 'Two Sessions' (两会) or UN conferences, you will hear '可持续发展目标' (Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) mentioned constantly.
- Business and Finance: Companies now focus on 'ESG' (Environmental, Social, and Governance), where '可持续投资' (sustainable investment) is a key phrase.
- Environmental Activism: Discussions about '可持续能源' (sustainable energy) like wind and solar power.
- Lifestyle Blogs: Influencers talking about '可持续时尚' (sustainable fashion), which refers to eco-friendly clothing and slow fashion.
“为了子孙后代，我们必须坚持可持续发展。” (For the sake of future generations, we must adhere to sustainable development.)
Learners often struggle with the distinction between 'sustainable' and 'continuous.' Here are the pitfalls to avoid:
- Mistake 1: Using 持续 instead of 可持续
- 持续 is a verb ('to continue'). 可持续 is an adjective ('sustainable'). You can't say '这是持续的发展' to mean sustainable; you must say '这是可持续的发展'.
- Mistake 2: Confusing with 连续 (lián xù)
- 连续 means 'in a row' or 'without interruption.' If it rains for three days, it's 连续. If a farming method doesn't ruin the soil, it's 可持续.
To enrich your vocabulary, compare 可持续 with these related terms:
- 环保 (huán bǎo): Short for 环境保护 (environmental protection). While 'sustainable' is a method, '环保' is the goal or the action of protecting nature.
- 绿色 (lǜ sè): Literally 'green,' but used metaphorically for anything eco-friendly (e.g., 绿色能源).
- 循环 (xún huán): Meaning 'circular' or 'cycle.' Often used in '循环经济' (circular economy), which is a specific type of sustainable system.
- 长远 (cháng yuǎn): Meaning 'long-term.' Used for planning (长远打算).
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
The use of '可' as a prefix for 'able to'.
Adjective + 的 + Noun construction.
Negation with '不'.
Adverbial construction with '地'.
Topic-comment sentence structure.
Examples by Level
我们要保护地球，这是可持续的。
We must protect the Earth; this is sustainable.
Simple Subject + 是 + Adjective.
这个方法很可持续。
This method is very sustainable.
Use of '很' to modify the adjective.
可持续的生活很好。
A sustainable life is very good.
Adjective + 的 + Noun.
我不喜欢不可持续的东西。
I don't like unsustainable things.
Negation with '不'.
太阳能是可持续的。
Solar energy is sustainable.
Scientific fact in simple form.
我们要学习可持续。
We need to learn about sustainability.
Verb + Object.
多用布袋是可持续的。
Using cloth bags more is sustainable.
Gerund-like phrase as subject.
水是可持续的资源吗？
Is water a sustainable resource?
Question form with '吗'.
可持续发展对每个国家都很重要。
Sustainable development is important for every country.
Topic-comment structure.
这家公司使用可持续的材料。
This company uses sustainable materials.
Subject + Verb + Adjective + Noun.
我们需要更多可持续的能源。
We need more sustainable energy.
Quantity word '更多' + Adjective.
这种捕鱼方式不是可持续的。
This way of fishing is not sustainable.
Negative '不是...的' construction.
可持续农业可以保护土壤。
Sustainable agriculture can protect the soil.
Specific noun phrase '可持续农业'.
他想买可持续的衣服。
He wants to buy sustainable clothes.
Verb '想' + Object phrase.
这个城市的交通很可持续。
The transportation in this city is very sustainable.
Possessive '的' for the subject.
保护森林是可持续的行为。
Protecting forests is a sustainable act.
Abstract noun '行为' (behavior).
为了实现可持续发展，我们必须减少浪费。
To achieve sustainable development, we must reduce waste.
Purpose clause '为了...'.
这种经济增长模式是不可持续的。
This model of economic growth is unsustainable.
Focus on '不可持续' as a critique.
政府正在推广可持续的旅游业。
The government is promoting sustainable tourism.
Progressive aspect '正在'.
可持续的生活方式不仅环保，还能省钱。
A sustainable lifestyle is not only eco-friendly but also saves money.
Correlative conjunction '不仅...还...'.
我们需要考虑资源的可持续性。
We need to consider the sustainability of resources.
Noun form '可持续性'.
这家超市只卖可持续捕捞的鱼。
This supermarket only sells sustainably caught fish.
Adverbial use '可持续捕捞的'.
可持续建筑设计可以降低能耗。
Sustainable architectural design can reduce energy consumption.
Technical compound subject.
你认为什么样的习惯是可持续的？
What kind of habits do you think are sustainable?
Interrogative '什么样的'.
企业应当将可持续性纳入其核心战略。
Enterprises should incorporate sustainability into their core strategies.
Use of '将' for object displacement.
如果不改变现状，我们的资源将不再可持续。
If we don't change the status quo, our resources will no longer be sustainable.
Conditional '如果...将...'.
该项目旨在通过可持续手段改善当地民生。
The project aims to improve local livelihoods through sustainable means.
Formal phrase '旨在' (aims to).
可持续消费意味着在购买时考虑环境影响。
Sustainable consumption means considering environmental impact when purchasing.
Defining a concept with '意味着'.
我们需要建立一个可持续的社会保障体系。
We need to establish a sustainable social security system.
Abstract application of the term.
这种高强度的加班文化是不可持续的。
This culture of high-intensity overtime is unsustainable.
Social critique usage.
该报告强调了可持续森林管理的重要性。
The report emphasized the importance of sustainable forest management.
Formal verb '强调' (emphasize).
通过技术创新，我们可以实现更可持续的生产方式。
Through technological innovation, we can achieve more sustainable production methods.
Prepositional phrase '通过...'.
可持续发展不仅仅是一个口号，更是一种责任。
Sustainable development is not just a slogan, but a responsibility.
Contrastive structure '不仅仅是...更是...'.
在全球化背景下，可持续性已成为衡量企业竞争力的关键指标。
In the context of globalization, sustainability has become a key indicator for measuring corporate competitiveness.
Complex prepositional phrase.
我们需要在经济增长与环境保护之间寻求可持续的平衡。
We need to seek a sustainable balance between economic growth and environmental protection.
Seeking balance '在...之间寻求平衡'.
这种掠夺式的开发模式严重背离了可持续发展的初衷。
This predatory development model seriously deviates from the original intention of sustainable development.
Strong formal verb '背离' (deviate).
政府应通过税收优惠鼓励可持续技术的研发。
The government should encourage the R&D of sustainable technologies through tax incentives.
Policy-oriented vocabulary.
可持续城市化要求我们在规划中充分考虑生态承载力。
Sustainable urbanization requires us to fully consider ecological carrying capacity in planning.
Technical term '生态承载力'.
个人行为的微小改变汇聚起来，就能产生可持续的影响。
Small changes in individual behavior, when gathered together, can produce a sustainable impact.
Subject with complex modifier.
该学者的研究探讨了社会契约在可持续治理中的作用。
The scholar's research explored the role of social contracts in sustainable governance.
Academic register.
构建人类命运共同体离不开全球范围内的可持续协作。
Building a community with a shared future for mankind is inseparable from global sustainable collaboration.
High-level political discourse.
我们必须反思那种以牺牲环境为代价的、不可持续的增长路径。
We must reflect on that unsustainable growth path that comes at the cost of the environment.
Complex attributive clause.
可持续性范式的转型要求我们重新定义财富与进步。
The transition of the sustainability paradigm requires us to redefine wealth and progress.
Abstract philosophical terminology.
在资源约束趋紧的今天，可持续性已成为文明延续的底线。
Today, as resource constraints tighten, sustainability has become the bottom line for the continuation of civilization.
Metaphorical and formal language.
该政策的实施标志着我国向可持续能源结构的深度转型。
The implementation of this policy marks a deep transformation of our country towards a sustainable energy structure.
Formal '标志着' (marks/signifies).
可持续金融不仅关注财务回报，更关注长期的社会效益。
Sustainable finance focuses not only on financial returns but also on long-term social benefits.
Nuanced comparison of '关注' points.
唯有秉持可持续发展的理念，方能破解当前全球面临的生态困局。
Only by upholding the concept of sustainable development can we solve the current global ecological dilemma.
Literary structure '唯有...方能...'.
可持续性的多维属性要求跨学科的整合研究。
The multidimensional attributes of sustainability require interdisciplinary integrated research.
Scientific/Academic jargon.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
Word Family
Related
How to Use It
It implies a moral or logical necessity to last, not just a physical duration.
Extremely strong with '发展'.
- Using '持续' when you mean 'sustainable'.
- Using '可持续' to describe a movie that is too long.
- Forgetting the '的' when modifying a noun (e.g., 可持续发展 is okay, but 可持续生活 usually needs '的').
- Confusing '可持续' with '可再生' (renewable).
- Using it in very casual slang where '长久' would be more natural.
Tips
Pairing
Always learn '可持续' with '发展'. They are inseparable in 90% of contexts.
Prefix '可'
Remember that '可' works like the English suffix '-able'. 可(able) + 持续(continue) = Sustainable.
Green China
In modern China, using this word shows you are aware of current social priorities.
Tone Flow
Practice the 3-2-4 tone transition; it's a common rhythmic pattern in Chinese.
Essay Hook
Use '可持续性' to discuss the long-term viability of any plan.
News Keyword
When you hear 'kě chí xù', get ready for a topic about the future or environment.
Context Clues
If you see '环保' or '资源', '可持续' is likely nearby.
Negative Form
Use '不可持续' to describe burnout or bad financial habits.
Professionalism
Using this word in a business meeting makes you sound more professional.
The 'Xu' Thread
The character '续' has the silk radical, meaning a thread that keeps going.
Memorize It
Word Origin
Modern loan-translation (calque) of the English word 'sustainable'.
Cultural Context
Mentioned in every major Five-Year Plan.
A standard topic in Chinese primary and secondary school geography and politics classes.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"你觉得什么样的生活方式是可持续的？"
"你认为太阳能是最好的可持续能源吗？"
"我们该如何实现可持续发展？"
"你买衣服时会考虑可持续性吗？"
"哪些公司的做法让你觉得很可持续？"
Journal Prompts
写一写你为了可持续生活做出的改变。
讨论一下你家乡的可持续发展现状。
如果资源不再可持续，世界会变成什么样？
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is widely used in economics (sustainable growth) and personal life (sustainable habits).
It sounds a bit clinical or like a joke. '长久' is better for relationships.
The noun form is '可持续性' (kě chí xù xìng).
Yes, it is very formal and common in media and academic writing.
Simply add '不' to get '不可持续'.
Definitely '可持续发展' (Sustainable Development).
No, it is strictly an adjective. Use '持续' if you need a verb.
No, it is a modern term, though its components are ancient.
They are related. Renewable energy (可再生能源) is a type of sustainable energy (可持续能源).
Third tone (kě), Second tone (chí), Fourth tone (xù).
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Summary
可持续 (kě chí xù) is the essential term for 'sustainable' in Chinese. It combines 'ability' (可) with 'continuation' (持续) and is primarily used to describe systems that balance current needs with future resource availability.
- Sustainable; able to last long-term.
- Key phrase: 可持续发展 (Sustainable Development).
- Used for environment, economy, and lifestyle.
- Opposite: 不可持续 (Unsustainable).
Pairing
Always learn '可持续' with '发展'. They are inseparable in 90% of contexts.
Prefix '可'
Remember that '可' works like the English suffix '-able'. 可(able) + 持续(continue) = Sustainable.
Green China
In modern China, using this word shows you are aware of current social priorities.
Tone Flow
Practice the 3-2-4 tone transition; it's a common rhythmic pattern in Chinese.
Example
可持续发展是全球面临的重大课题。
Related Content
More environment words
堆积
B1To pile up or accumulate in a heap. It can refer to physical objects, sediment, or abstract things like work or emotions.
顺应
B2To adapt to, comply with, or follow a trend, natural law, or social change. It implies a harmonious adjustment to external conditions.
气候
B1The general weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period. In IELTS, it is almost always discussed in the context of 'change' or 'global warming'.
耗费
B1To use up or spend a lot of resources, such as time, money, or energy, often in a way that suggests a significant amount is required.
消耗
B1To use up resources, energy, or time. In academic writing, it often refers to the consumption of natural resources or the energy expenditure of a system.
遏制
B1To prevent something (usually something negative) from growing, spreading, or becoming worse by using force, control, or regulation.
损害
B1To cause physical harm to something so as to impair its value or usefulness; or to cause injury to someone's health or reputation.
锐减
B1To decrease or drop sharply and rapidly.
枯竭
B2To be completely used up or run dry; typically used for resources, water, or even creativity and energy.
破坏
B1To cause severe damage to something so that it no longer exists or can no longer function. It can refer to physical objects, systems, or abstract concepts like relationships.
