持続
じぞく · jizoku · JLPT N1 · noun
continuance
⏳ 持 (hold, keep) + 続 (continue) = keep holding on and keep going: continuation
持 means hold or keep, and 続 means continue or follow on. Together, 持続 is keeping something going without stopping, which is why it also means endurance.
持 — hand 扌 + temple 寺 (phonetic)
持 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 carries the meaning 'to hold' or 'grasp', while 寺 supplies the sound (it once read close to chí). Originally depicting a hand holding something firmly, it broadened to mean 'maintain', 'support', or 'keep' over time.