save

Compared meaning: to rescue something from danger or loss (verb).

比较义项：从危险或损坏中救出、避免损失（动词）。

• save 本词

  The general, neutral word for keeping a person, animal or thing safe from danger while there is still time to prevent loss; works for people as well as objects.

  泛指在危险尚未造成损失之前，及时使人、动物或物品脱离危险；既可用于人也可用于物，是最常用、最中性的说法。

  Firefighters managed to save the trapped dog before the roof collapsed.

  消防员在屋顶倒塌之前设法救出了被困的狗。

• salvage

  More formal and specific; used after damage or disaster has already happened, for recovering objects or value that can still be used, not for rescuing living beings.

  较为正式，用于损坏或灾难已经发生之后，从中抢救出还能使用的物品或价值，一般不用于救人或救活的生物。

  The insurers could only salvage a few undamaged boxes from the warehouse fire.

  保险公司只能从仓库大火中抢救出几箱没有受损的物品。

Save and salvage both mean to protect something from loss or damage. Save is the general, neutral word, used before danger causes real loss, for both people and things. Salvage is more formal, used after damage or disaster has happened, for recovering parts or value.

save和salvage在这个义项上都表示使某物免于损失或毁坏，但save更常用、更中性，强调在危险还未造成损失时及时保护或救出，既可以用于人也可以用于物；salvage较为正式，通常指损坏或灾难已经发生之后，从中抢救出还有用的部分或价值，一般不用于救人。这里不比较save常见的“储蓄、节省”义项，例如save money。

Compared meaning: to hold onto something, not give it up (verb).

比较义项：保留、保存某物（动词）。

• keep

  The neutral, everyday word for holding onto something instead of giving it away, discarding it, or returning it; doesn't necessarily imply saving it for future use.

  是最普通、最中性的词，表示把某物留在自己手中，而不送人、不丢弃、不归还；不一定包含「为将来使用」的意思。

  I keep a spare key under the doormat in case I get locked out.

  我把备用钥匙放在门垫下面，以防被锁在外面。

• save 本词

  Implies deliberately not using or spending something now so that it's available for later, often for money, time, or resources; stronger sense of foresight and economizing.

  强调现在特意不使用、不花费某物，为了以后能派上用场，常用于金钱、时间等资源，带有为未来打算、节省的意味。

  I try to save some money every single month.

  我每个月都尽量省一点钱。

Keep and save both mean to hold onto something instead of losing or giving it away. Keep is the neutral, everyday word, simply meaning to continue having something. Save adds the idea of deliberately not using something now, so it is available later.

两者都表示把某物保留下来，不丢弃、不放弃；save 更强调「为了以后使用」而特意保留，常用于金钱、时间等资源，语气偏向节省和打算；keep 语气更中性，只表示继续持有某物，不一定包含为未来打算的意思。这里不比较 keep 表示「维持某种状态」（如 keep quiet）的用法。