maintenance 30秒了解
- Maintenance is a feminine noun used for technical upkeep.
- It is common in IT, industry, and public services.
- Distinguish it from 'entretien' (general) and 'maintien' (abstract).
- Key types include preventive, corrective, and evolutionary maintenance.
The French word maintenance is a feminine noun that primarily refers to the technical and systematic upkeep of equipment, software, or infrastructure. While it shares a root with the English word, its usage in French is often more specialized than the general term 'entretien'. In a professional context, it encompasses the preventive and corrective measures taken to ensure that a system continues to function at its optimal level. This could range from the maintenance informatique (IT maintenance) of a server to the maintenance industrielle of a factory assembly line.
- Technical Scope
- Refers to the rigorous set of protocols used to prevent failure in mechanical or electronic systems.
- Administrative Scope
- Involves the preservation of a specific state or condition, such as the maintenance of order or a legal status.
- Digital Scope
- Specifically used for software updates, bug fixes, and server stability checks.
"L'équipe technique effectue la maintenance préventive des ascenseurs chaque mois pour garantir la sécurité des résidents."
Understanding the nuance between 'maintenance' and 'entretien' is crucial for A2 learners. While 'entretien' is used for daily tasks like cleaning a house or checking car oil, 'maintenance' implies a more technical, often industrial or digital, intervention. For instance, you 'entretenir' your garden, but a technician performs 'maintenance' on a telecommunications satellite. This distinction highlights the professional register often associated with the word.
"Le site web est en maintenance jusqu'à demain matin pour une mise à jour majeure."
In the broader sense, the word can also appear in sociological or political discussions, referring to the 'maintenance de l'ordre' (maintenance of order). However, for a beginner or intermediate learner, focusing on the technical and IT aspects will cover 90% of daily encounters with the word. It is a 'mot transparent' (cognate) which makes it easy to remember, but be careful with the pronunciation—the 'en' sounds are nasal /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃s/.
"La maintenance corrective est nécessaire après la panne du moteur principal."
"Nous avons signé un contrat de maintenance pour tout le parc informatique de l'entreprise."
"Le coût de la maintenance annuelle représente 10% du budget total du projet."
Using the word maintenance correctly requires pairing it with the right verbs and adjectives. In French, nouns often need a 'support verb' to function in a sentence. For 'maintenance', the most common verbs are effectuer (to carry out), assurer (to ensure/provide), and prévoir (to plan).
- Effectuer la maintenance
- The most formal and common way to say 'to do maintenance'. Used in technical reports and professional settings.
- En maintenance
- A state of being. Used to describe a machine or system that is currently being worked on (e.g., 'L'ascenseur est en maintenance').
- Contrat de maintenance
- A legal or business term for a service agreement covering repairs and upkeep.
Adjectives play a vital role in specifying what kind of maintenance is being discussed. In the industrial world, there are two main types: préventive (preventive) and corrective (corrective). Preventive maintenance happens before a problem occurs, while corrective maintenance happens after a breakdown. As a learner, being able to distinguish these shows a high level of precision.
"Il est préférable d'investir dans la maintenance préventive pour éviter des arrêts de production coûteux."
In digital contexts, you will often see 'maintenance évolutive'. This refers to updates that add new features or improve performance, rather than just fixing bugs. If you are a developer or work in tech, this is a key term for your vocabulary. Note that the word 'maintenance' is rarely used for people or biological systems; for that, we use 'maintien' (e.g., le maintien de la santé).
You will encounter the word maintenance in several specific environments. Each environment gives the word a slightly different flavor. Understanding these contexts helps you anticipate the word and use it naturally.
- At the Office
- You might hear: 'Le service informatique fait une maintenance du réseau ce soir.' This means the internet or internal systems might be down.
- In Public Transport
- Announcements often say: 'Le trafic est interrompu pour cause de maintenance des voies.' (Traffic is stopped for track maintenance).
- On the Web
- Standard messages like 'Site en maintenance' or 'Maintenance en cours' are ubiquitous when platforms are being updated.
In French news, particularly regarding energy or infrastructure, 'maintenance' is a frequent topic. For example, the 'maintenance des centrales nucléaires' is a common headline in France, referring to the periodic shutdown of reactors for safety checks. This highlights the word's association with high-stakes, technical industries.
"En raison de travaux de maintenance, la ligne 1 du métro sera fermée ce dimanche."
Finally, in the job market, 'Technicien de maintenance' is a very common job title. These professionals are the backbone of modern industry, ensuring that everything from hospital ventilators to automated warehouse robots keeps running. If you are looking for technical work in France, this is a keyword for your CV.
Despite being a cognate, 'maintenance' has several pitfalls for English speakers. The most common error is confusing it with maintien or using it where entretien is more appropriate.
- Maintenance vs. Maintien
- 'Maintenance' is for technical objects. 'Maintien' is for abstract concepts or physical postures (e.g., 'le maintien de la paix' - peacekeeping, or 'un bon maintien' - good posture).
- Maintenance vs. Entretien
- Don't say 'la maintenance de mon jardin'. Say 'l'entretien de mon jardin'. Maintenance is too 'heavy' and technical for a garden.
- Gender Errors
- Because it ends in '-ance', it is feminine. Avoid saying 'le maintenance'.
Another mistake is the pronunciation of the 'ai' and 'en'. English speakers often pronounce the 'main' like 'mane'. In French, it is a nasal 'in' sound /mɛ̃/. The 'ten' is also nasal /t.nɑ̃s/. Practicing these nasal vowels is essential for sounding natural.
To expand your vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words that orbit the concept of maintenance. These synonyms and related terms allow for more precise communication depending on the context.
- L'entretien (m)
- The most common synonym. Used for general upkeep, cleaning, and routine checks of cars, houses, and gardens.
- La réparation (f)
- Fixing something that is already broken. Maintenance aims to prevent repair, but 'maintenance corrective' is essentially a technical repair.
- La révision (f)
- Specifically used for a thorough check-up, often for vehicles (e.g., 'faire la révision des 20 000 km').
- Le dépannage (m)
- Emergency troubleshooting or fixing a breakdown (e.g., a 'dépanneur' for a car on the highway).
In a more abstract sense, you might encounter la préservation or la conservation. These are used for historical monuments or nature reserves. You wouldn't perform 'maintenance' on a 12th-century cathedral; you would perform 'restauration' or 'conservation'. Choosing the right word shows you understand the 'soul' of the object you are discussing.
How Formal Is It?
难度评级
需要掌握的语法
Nasal vowels (in, an)
Feminine noun endings (-ance)
Contractions with 'de' (de la maintenance, du service de maintenance)
Passive voice with 'être' (est effectuée)
Preposition 'en' for state
按水平分级的例句
Le site est en maintenance.
The site is under maintenance.
Use 'en' to show a state.
La maintenance est importante.
Maintenance is important.
Feminine noun 'la'.
Où est le service de maintenance ?
Where is the maintenance department?
Noun phrase 'service de maintenance'.
C'est pour la maintenance.
It is for the maintenance.
Preposition 'pour'.
La maintenance commence à 9h.
The maintenance starts at 9 AM.
Present tense verb 'commence'.
Il y a une maintenance aujourd'hui.
There is a maintenance today.
Expression 'il y a'.
Merci pour la maintenance.
Thanks for the maintenance.
Polite expression.
La maintenance est finie.
The maintenance is finished.
Adjective 'finie' agrees with feminine noun.
L'ascenseur est en maintenance cette semaine.
The elevator is under maintenance this week.
Time expression 'cette semaine'.
Je dois appeler la maintenance informatique.
I must call IT maintenance.
Modal verb 'devoir'.
Ils font la maintenance des machines le lundi.
They do the maintenance of the machines on Mondays.
Plural 'des machines'.
La maintenance coûte cher.
Maintenance is expensive.
Adverb 'cher' after verb.
Est-ce que la maintenance est terminée ?
Is the maintenance finished?
Question with 'est-ce que'.
Nous avons un problème de maintenance.
We have a maintenance problem.
Compound noun 'problème de maintenance'.
Le technicien fait la maintenance du chauffage.
The technician is doing the maintenance of the heating.
Contraction 'du' (de + le).
Il faut prévoir la maintenance du serveur.
It is necessary to plan the maintenance of the server.
Impersonal 'il faut'.
La maintenance préventive évite les pannes.
Preventive maintenance avoids breakdowns.
Adjective 'préventive'.
Le contrat de maintenance inclut les pièces.
The maintenance contract includes the parts.
Verb 'inclure' in present tense.
L'équipe de maintenance intervient rapidement.
The maintenance team intervenes quickly.
Adverb 'rapidement'.
Nous effectuons une maintenance régulière du réseau.
We carry out regular maintenance of the network.
Verb 'effectuer'.
La maintenance corrective est plus coûteuse.
Corrective maintenance is more expensive.
Comparative 'plus... que'.
Veuillez nous excuser pour cette maintenance imprévue.
Please excuse us for this unforeseen maintenance.
Polite imperative 'veuillez'.
La maintenance logicielle est essentielle pour la sécurité.
Software maintenance is essential for security.
Adjective 'logicielle'.
Il travaille comme agent de maintenance.
He works as a maintenance agent.
Preposition 'comme'.
La maintenance industrielle exige une grande précision.
Industrial maintenance requires great precision.
Abstract noun 'précision'.
Le budget alloué à la maintenance a été réduit.
The budget allocated to maintenance has been reduced.
Passive voice 'a été réduit'.
Il est crucial d'assurer la maintenance des infrastructures.
It is crucial to ensure the maintenance of infrastructures.
Infinitive construction 'il est... de'.
La maintenance évolutive permet d'ajouter des fonctionnalités.
Evolutionary maintenance allows for adding features.
Verb 'permettre de'.
Le technicien a rédigé un rapport de maintenance détaillé.
The technician wrote a detailed maintenance report.
Past participle 'rédigé'.
La maintenance du parc automobile est externalisée.
The maintenance of the car fleet is outsourced.
Verb 'externaliser'.
Une faille a été découverte lors de la maintenance.
A flaw was discovered during maintenance.
Prepositional phrase 'lors de'.
La maintenance prédictive utilise l'intelligence artificielle.
Predictive maintenance uses artificial intelligence.
Adjective 'prédictive'.
La maintenance de l'ordre public est une priorité régalienne.
The maintenance of public order is a sovereign priority.
Formal adjective 'régalien'.
L'obsolescence programmée complique la maintenance des appareils.
Planned obsolescence complicates the maintenance of devices.
Complex subject 'obsolescence programmée'.
La maintenance des relations diplomatiques requiert du tact.
The maintenance of diplomatic relations requires tact.
Abstract usage of maintenance.
Le protocole de maintenance doit être scrupuleusement respecté.
The maintenance protocol must be scrupulously respected.
Adverb 'scrupuleusement'.
Cette clause de maintenance est abusive selon l'avocat.
This maintenance clause is abusive according to the lawyer.
Legal terminology 'clause'.
La maintenance du patrimoine historique est un défi financier.
The maintenance of historical heritage is a financial challenge.
Noun 'patrimoine'.
On assiste à une externalisation massive de la maintenance.
We are witnessing a massive outsourcing of maintenance.
Expression 'on assiste à'.
La maintenance des écosystèmes est vitale pour la planète.
The maintenance of ecosystems is vital for the planet.
Environmental context.
La maintenance ontologique du sujet est au cœur de l'œuvre.
The ontological maintenance of the subject is at the heart of the work.
Philosophical register.
Il s'agit d'une maintenance pérenne des acquis sociaux.
It is a matter of a lasting maintenance of social gains.
Formal adjective 'pérenne'.
La maintenance du statu quo ne saurait être une solution.
Maintaining the status quo cannot be a solution.
Literary negation 'ne saurait être'.
La maintenance des infrastructures critiques est un enjeu de sécurité nationale.
The maintenance of critical infrastructures is a national security issue.
Geopolitical context.
L'herméneutique de la maintenance révèle des structures cachées.
The hermeneutics of maintenance reveals hidden structures.
Academic register.
La maintenance de la biodiversité nécessite une approche holistique.
The maintenance of biodiversity requires a holistic approach.
Scientific register.
Le coût marginal de la maintenance croît de manière exponentielle.
The marginal cost of maintenance grows exponentially.
Economic terminology.
La maintenance de la paix est compromise par les tensions frontalières.
Peacekeeping is compromised by border tensions.
Diplomatic register.
常见搭配
常用短语
容易混淆的词
习语与表达
容易混淆
句型
如何使用
Refers to bug fixes and updates.
Refers to the maintenance of a state (rare).
Refers to machine upkeep.
- Using 'le maintenance' (it's feminine).
- Pronouncing it like the English 'maintenance'.
- Using it for cleaning a house (use 'entretien').
- Using it as a verb 'maintenancer'.
- Confusing it with 'maintenant' (now).
小贴士
Technical Focus
Use this word when talking about IT or machines.
Nasal Vowels
Practice 'main' and 'nance' separately to master the nasals.
Gender
Always pair with 'la' or 'une'.
Workplace
Use it in professional emails regarding system updates.
Cognate
It looks like English, but the pronunciation is very different.
Public Transport
Listen for it in the metro to know why there are delays.
Verbs
Pair with 'effectuer' for high-quality writing.
vs Maintien
Use 'maintien' for 'peacekeeping' (maintien de la paix).
Web Dev
Always have a 'page de maintenance' ready for your projects.
Security
Maintenance is often linked to 'sécurité' in French.
记住它
词源
From Old French 'maintenir', from Latin 'manu tenere' (to hold in the hand).
文化背景
Maintenance technicians often work in shifts (les 3-8) in French factories.
SNCF (trains) and RATP (metro) are famous for their frequent maintenance announcements.
在生活中练习
真实语境
对话开场白
"Est-ce que la maintenance est terminée ?"
"Pourquoi le site est-il en maintenance ?"
"Quel est le coût de la maintenance annuelle ?"
"Qui s'occupe de la maintenance informatique ?"
"Avez-vous un contrat de maintenance pour la clim ?"
日记主题
Décrivez une fois où un service était en maintenance quand vous en aviez besoin.
Pourquoi la maintenance est-elle importante pour la sécurité ?
Préférez-vous faire la maintenance vous-même ou appeler un pro ?
Imaginez un monde sans maintenance. Que se passe-t-il ?
Quelles sont les étapes de la maintenance d'un ordinateur ?
常见问题
10 个问题L'entretien est général et domestique, la maintenance est technique et industrielle.
C'est un nom féminin : la maintenance.
On prononce /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃s/ avec deux voyelles nasales.
Non, ce verbe n'existe pas. On dit 'effectuer la maintenance'.
C'est un accord pour assurer l'entretien technique régulier d'un bien.
Pour indiquer que le site est fermé temporairement pour des mises à jour.
C'est agir avant la panne pour l'éviter.
C'est réparer après une panne.
Un technicien ou un agent de maintenance.
C'est un mot d'origine française qui est revenu de l'anglais avec un sens technique.
自我测试 180 个问题
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Maintenance in French is more technical than in English; it refers specifically to the professional upkeep of systems, software, and machinery, often involving scheduled downtime or specialized technicians.
- Maintenance is a feminine noun used for technical upkeep.
- It is common in IT, industry, and public services.
- Distinguish it from 'entretien' (general) and 'maintien' (abstract).
- Key types include preventive, corrective, and evolutionary maintenance.
Technical Focus
Use this word when talking about IT or machines.
Nasal Vowels
Practice 'main' and 'nance' separately to master the nasals.
Gender
Always pair with 'la' or 'une'.
Workplace
Use it in professional emails regarding system updates.
相关内容
更多work词汇
à distance
A2远程地，不需要亲身到场。
à durée déterminée
B1For a fixed or definite period; fixed-term.
à durée indéterminée
B1无固定期限的；永久的（如合同）。
à la fin
A2在最后 (zài zuìhòu)
à la journée
B1每日，或仅限于一天的期限或付款。
à la semaine
B1Weekly, by the week.
à l'année
B1Annually, by the year.
à l'attention de
B1由……收启；用于正式信函或电子邮件中，指明特定的收件人。
à l'avance
A2提前或预先做某事。
à l'issue de
A2在……结束时；在……之后。常用于正式场合，如会议或比赛结束后的描述。
