Translation guide
How to encourage someone to continue what they are doing, or to express that an action or state continues.
You want to cheer someone on to keep doing what they are doing (e.g., during a race, while working, while speaking).
The most common and versatile encouragement. Literally 'do your best', but used like 'keep going' or 'you can do it'.
あと少し！頑張って！
Just a little more! Keep going!
Means 'keep it up' or 'that's the way'. Used when someone is already doing well and you want them to continue at that pace.
You want to say that someone or something continues to do something, or that a state persists.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'continue to do ~'. Very common and natural.
彼は走り続けた。
He kept running.
雨が降り続けている。
It keeps raining.
You want to tell someone to keep walking, driving, etc., without stopping.
Literally 'advance as you are'. Used when giving directions or telling someone to keep moving forward.
この道をそのまま進んでください。
Please keep going down this road.
続ける focuses on the continuation of an action, while 〜まま focuses on maintaining a state without change. For example, 走り続ける means 'keep running' (action continues), while 立ったまま means 'remain standing' (state unchanged).
彼は一時間走り続けた。
He kept running for an hour.
彼は立ったまま寝ていた。
He was sleeping while standing up.
Please keep going like that.
Casual, from English 'fight'. Often used in sports or friendly encouragement.
ファイト！あと一周！
Keep going! One more lap!
Directly means 'continue'. Can sound a bit blunt as encouragement; more often used as an instruction.
そのまま続けて。
Keep going just like that.
Used after a verb in past or negative form, or after a noun + の, to mean 'keep ~ing' or 'remain in a state'. Often implies leaving something as it is.
ドアを開けたままにしておいて。
Keep the door open.
立ったまま話しましょう。
Let's keep standing while we talk.
Using ずっと with the te-iru form emphasizes that an action or state has been continuing for a long time.
朝からずっと働いている。
I've been working since morning (and am still going).
Attach to masu-stem to mean 'do something all the way through' or 'persist in doing'. Stronger than 続ける, implies seeing it to the end.
最後までやり通した。
I kept going until the end.
Means 'don't stop'. Direct and clear.
止まらないで、そのまま行って。
Don't stop, keep going.