Translation guide
The English phrasal verb "hold out" has several distinct meanings. This guide organizes them by practical use: physically extending something, enduring in a difficult situation, offering hope, and other less common senses.
手を差し出して。
Hold out your hand.
もう長くは持ちこたえられない。
We can't hold out much longer.
To stretch out your hand or arm to give, show, or offer something to someone.
The most direct and common way to say 'hold out' when offering something with your hand. It implies extending your hand to give or show something.
彼は私に手を差し出した。
He held out his hand to me.
彼女はお菓子を差し出した。
She held out some candy.
Literally 'extend one's hand'. Used when reaching out to take something or to touch, rather than offering. Can also mean to expand one's reach.
彼は本を取ろうと手を伸ばした。
He held out his hand to grab the book.
To hold something up high, like a sign or a flag. Not for handing something over.
彼は旗を掲げた。
He held out the flag.
To continue to resist or survive despite hardship, often until something changes or help arrives.
To hold out, endure, or withstand. Often used for physical endurance, like holding a position or surviving a crisis.
彼らは援軍が来るまで持ちこたえた。
They held out until reinforcements arrived.
この食料で一週間持ちこたえられる。
We can hold out for a week with this food.
To endure, bear, or withstand something unpleasant. More general than 持ちこたえる and often used for abstract or emotional endurance.
To persist, do one's best, or hang in there. Very common in everyday speech for encouraging someone to keep going.
To be tenacious, stick to something, or not give up. Often used in negotiations or competitions.
To say that there is a chance of something good happening, often used in the phrase 'hold out hope'.
Literally 'continue to hold hope'. The most natural way to express 'hold out hope' in Japanese.
彼らはまだ希望を持ち続けている。
They are still holding out hope.
To not give up hope. A slightly more emphatic way of saying you are still hoping.
彼は望みを捨てなかった。
He held out hope.
To resist demands or pressure, often in negotiations, by not agreeing to something.
To not concede or give in. Commonly used when someone refuses to compromise.
彼は給料の交渉で譲らなかった。
He held out in the salary negotiations.
To flatly refuse or reject. Stronger than 譲らない, often implies a blunt refusal.
彼は要求を突っぱねた。
He held out against the demands.
To refuse to give information, money, or something expected.
To be stingy or reluctant to give something, like information or money. Fits when someone is holding out on you.
彼は情報を出し惜しんでいる。
He's holding out on the information.
To hide or conceal. More general, but can be used when someone is holding out by not revealing something.
差し出す is for offering something to someone, while 手を伸ばす is for reaching out to grab or touch something. Use 差し出す when you are giving, and 手を伸ばす when you are taking.
Avoid directly translating 'hold out hope' as 希望を差し出す, which sounds like you are physically handing over hope. Use 希望を持ち続ける or 望みを捨てない instead.
兵士たちは三日間持ちこたえた。
The soldiers held out for three days.
彼女は握手を求めて手を差し出した。
She held out her hand to shake mine.
He held out against the pain.
もう少し頑張って！
Hold out a little longer!
He held out until the very end.
He's holding out the truth.