upkeep

Compared meaning: work or cost to keep something in good condition (noun).

比较义项：维护，保持良好状态所做的工作或花费（名词）。

• maintenance

  A general, somewhat technical word for the ongoing work of keeping machines, vehicles, software, roads or systems in good condition; often paired with 'regular' or 'routine'.

  一个较为通用、偏技术性的词，指为使机器、车辆、软件、道路或系统保持良好状态而持续进行的工作，常与regular、routine等词搭配。

  Regular maintenance keeps the old car running smoothly for years.

  定期维护让这辆旧车多年来一直行驶顺畅。

• upkeep 本词

  Focuses more on the ongoing cost than the technical work itself, used mainly for houses, gardens or property, and almost always appears as 'the upkeep of'.

  比起具体的技术性工作，更强调持续产生的费用，主要用于房屋、花园或房产，且几乎总是以“the upkeep of”这种结构出现。

  The upkeep of an old house can cost a lot of money each year.

  维护一栋旧房子每年可能要花费很多钱。

Both words mean the work or cost of keeping something in good condition. Maintenance is general and somewhat technical, used for machines, vehicles, software or systems. Upkeep focuses more on ongoing cost than technical work, used mainly for houses, gardens or property.

这两个词在“维护”这一意思上很接近，都指为保持某物处于良好状态所做的工作或花费；但maintenance更通用、常用于机器、车辆、软件或系统等技术语境，而upkeep更多用于房屋、花园等财产，且更强调持续产生的费用。这里不比较maintenance的“赡养费”这一义项。