Mantener vs. guardar
In Spanish, 'mantener' and 'guardar' both can mean 'to keep', but they are used in different contexts. Here are their meanings and various examples to highlight the differences.
Mantener
'Mantener' is generally used to refer to maintaining or keeping a state, condition, or situation over time.
Ella debe mantener la calma durante el examen.
(She must keep calm during the exam.)
Es importante mantener un equilibrio entre la vida laboral y personal.
(It is important to maintain a balance between work and personal life.)
Debes mantener tu promesa.
(You must keep your promise.)
Nos esforzamos por mantener la casa limpia.
(We strive to keep the house clean.)
Guardar
'Guardar' is typically used when referring to putting something away in a safe place or saving it for future use.
Por favor, guarda tus juguetes después de jugar.
(Please put your toys away after playing.)
Puedes guardar los archivos en esta carpeta.
(You can save the files in this folder.)
Guardo fotos antiguas en esa caja.
(I keep old photos in that box.)
Ellos guardan dinero para emergencias.
(They save money for emergencies.)
Summary
'Mantener' focuses on maintaining a condition or state over time, while 'guardar' involves putting something away for safekeeping or future use. Understanding these distinctions helps to use each word correctly based on context.