()(こた)える

もちこたえる
verb (ichidan)
to hold out, to endure
自動詞 intransitiveaction
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present()(こた)える()(こた)えない
Present polite()(こた)えます()(こた)えません
Past()(こた)えた()(こた)えなかった
Past polite()(こた)えました()(こた)えませんでした
て form()(こた)えて()(こた)えなくて
ている present()(こた)えている()(こた)えていない
ている polite()(こた)えています()(こた)えていません
ている past()(こた)えていた()(こた)えていなかった
ている past polite()(こた)えていました()(こた)えていませんでした
Conditional ば()(こた)えれば()(こた)えなければ
Conditional たら()(こた)えたら()(こた)えなかったら
Volitional()(こた)えよう
Volitional polite()(こた)えましょう
Potential()(こた)えられる()(こた)えられない
Passive()(こた)えられる()(こた)えられない
Causative()(こた)えさせる()(こた)えさせない
Imperative()(こた)えろ()(こた)えるな
1. to hold out, to endure, to withstand
To continue to resist or survive under difficult conditions; to hang on despite hardship.
The company somehow managed to hold out through the recession.
I'm worried whether the levee will hold against the flood.
If we can just hold out a little longer, help will arrive.

Transitivity: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). The subject is whatever is holding out, marked with or .

Particles: Although the verb is intransitive, the hardship weathered is regularly marked with (不況(ふきょう)()(こた)える, 'weather the recession') — a traversal rather than a true direct object. The pressure resisted can also be marked with (攻撃(こうげき)()(こた)える).

Compound verb: Formed from () (to hold) + (こた)える (to endure). The combination emphasizes sustained endurance or resistance.

Common collocations

Similar words: ()える emphasizes bearing pain or difficulty; ()(こた)える emphasizes maintaining a position or continuing to function. (こら)える (same kanji, read こらえる) is a different verb meaning to hold back a feeling or urge.