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sustain maintain retain attain的差別

口訣: 遲留命
Maintain保持，retain保留，sustain保命

maintain ,retain和sustain有各自不同的意思，但其中都有“保持、維持”的意思。這三個詞的區別要從各個詞的原始（original）意思上去體會細微的意思差別。
【maintain】 --keep sth. in existence at the same level, standard.維持（已有的水平、標準）如：
I hope you will maintain your recent improvement.我希望你能保持最近取得的進步。
Let's maintain peace in the world.讓我們來維持世界和平。
maintain law and order維持治安
maintain prices保持價格穩定

【retain】--keep sth. in one's possession or use.保留如：
This village still retains its old world character.這個村莊仍然保持著古色古鄉特色。
We retained the original fireplace when we decorated the room.我們裝修那個房間時，原來的壁爐保留不動。
This cloth retains its color.這布不褪色
He is 90 but still retains (the use of)all his faculties.他年已九旬，但各種官能仍未衰退。

【sustain】 --keep sb./sth.alive or in existence（支持、維持生命）, to keep up the strength, spirits or determination of （維持體力/精神/決心）如：
The supplies of food were scarcely enough to sustain life.食品的供應僅夠勉強維持生命。
A light meal won't sustain us through the day.一頓小食維持不了我們一天的精力。
Hopes alone sustained him in his misery.他在痛苦之中只有希望鼓勵著他。