維持する
解説 Definition
ある水準やペースを落とさずに維持し続けること。
To keep up means to continue at the same speed, level, or standard without falling behind. It is often used for work, study, habits, or progress. It can also mean staying at the same speed as other people or things.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
この意味の keep up は、行為をただ「続ける」だけでなく、水準・ペース・努力などを落とさず保つことに焦点がある。keep up the pace, keep up standards, keep up the pressure のように、維持すべき基準がある場面で使う。基本義の「続ける」とは別に、何をどの程度のレベルで保つのかを意識すると覚えやすい。
Think of `keep` as staying the same and `up` as not dropping down. `Keep up` is about maintaining a level, speed, or effort without falling behind. Remember the contrast: `keep up with` means stay at the same pace, while `catch up with` means you were behind first.
例文
It's hard to keep up this pace for an entire marathon.
マラソン全体でこのペースを維持するのは難しい。
She exercises every day to keep up her fitness level.
彼女は体力を維持するために毎日運動している。
Keep up the good work, and you'll be promoted soon.
その調子で頑張り続ければ、すぐに昇進するだろう。
続ける
(意味 2)解説 Definition
ある行動や努力、習慣などを途中でやめずに続けることを表す。特に励ましでは、今うまくいっている取り組みをそのまま続行するよう促す文脈でよく使う。単に状態を保つというより、活動を継続して行う感覚が中心になる。
Keep up means to continue an action, effort, or habit without stopping. It is often used when someone is doing something well and should continue in the same way. The focus is not just on staying the same, but on actively continuing at a steady level, speed, or standard.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
keep を「保つ」、up を「下げない」と捉えると覚えやすい表現。何かを途中でやめず、基準・速度・水準を落とさず維持する感覚が中心で、keep up sales, keep up the effort, keep up the pressure などで使う。特に keep up with ... は「〜に遅れずついていく」。catch up with が「遅れを取り戻す」のに対し、keep up with は最初から同じペースを保つイメージ。keep on が「続ける」寄りなのとも区別すると定着しやすい。
Think of keep as "hold" and up as "not letting something drop." That gives the image of continuing without lowering your speed, level, or effort, as in keep up the effort or keep up the pressure. Remember that keep up with means staying at the same pace, while catch up with means reaching that pace after falling behind. It is also slightly different from keep on, which focuses more simply on continuing an action.
例文
If you keep up your English practice, you will improve little by little.
英語の練習を続ければ、少しずつ上達します。
She was tired, but she kept up the effort until the project was finished.
彼女は疲れていたが、プロジェクトが終わるまで努力を続けた。
Small businesses are struggling to keep up with rising costs.
小規模企業は、上がり続ける費用に遅れず対応し続けるのに苦労している。
遅れずについていく
(意味 3)解説 Definition
人や変化の速さ、水準などに後れを取らずについていくことを表す。勉強、仕事、技術の進歩、会話の流れなど、周囲のペースや要求に対応できているかを述べるときによく使う。否定形では、忙しさや難しさのため十分に対応しきれない響きが出やすい。
Keep up means to stay at the same speed, level, or standard as someone or something else. It is often used when talking about study, work, new technology, or the flow of a conversation. It shows that you are able to meet the pace or demands around you without falling behind. In negative forms, it often suggests that something is too busy, fast, or difficult to manage fully.
例文
It is hard to keep up with the changes in technology.
技術の変化に遅れずについていくのは大変だ。
She studies every day so she can keep up with the rest of the class.
彼女はクラスのみんなに遅れずついていけるよう毎日勉強している。
I could not keep up during the meeting because the discussion moved too quickly.
議論の進み方が速すぎて、会議中に遅れずついていけなかった。
keep up の語源・成り立ち Etymology
keep は古英語 cepan「つかむ・保つ」、up は古英語で「上に」。落とさず上の位置に保つ感覚が keep up の芯で、そこから「維持する」「遅れずついていく」が生まれた。関連語は keeper, housekeeping。
"Keep" comes from Old English cēpan, meaning "to hold" or "to preserve," and "up" comes from Old English up, meaning "upward." The basic image is keeping something from falling by holding it up. From that, the phrase developed the ideas of maintaining something and staying at the same level as others. Related English words include "keeper" and "housekeeping."
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