持(も)ち堪(こた)える

もちこたえる
verb (ichidan)
to hold out, to endure
1. to hold out, to endure, to withstand
To continue to resist or survive under difficult conditions; to hang on despite hardship.
会社(かいしゃ)はなんとか不況(ふきょう)を持(も)ち堪(こた)えた。
The company somehow managed to hold out through the recession.
堤防(ていぼう)が洪水(こうずい)に持(も)ち堪(こた)えるか心配(しんぱい)だ。
I'm worried whether the levee will hold against the flood.
あと少(すこ)し持(も)ち堪(こた)えれば、救援(きゅうえん)が来(く)る。
If we can just hold out a little longer, help will arrive.

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive).

COMPOUND VERB: Formed from 持(も)つ (to hold) + 堪(こた)える (to endure). The combination emphasizes sustained endurance or resistance.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 不況(ふきょう)を持(も)ち堪(こた)える (weather a recession)
  • 攻撃(こうげき)に持(も)ち堪(こた)える (withstand an attack)
  • 困難(こんなん)に持(も)ち堪(こた)える (endure hardships)
  • なんとか持(も)ち堪(こた)える (somehow hold out)

SIMILAR WORDS: 耐(た)える emphasizes bearing pain or difficulty; 持(も)ち堪(こた)える emphasizes maintaining a position or continuing to function.

Related Words

Related: 耐(た)える (similar verb)
general
Added 2026.1.18 16:17 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06796_mochikotaeru