爱华网区分这两个词，或许需要点背景。
在中国乒乓球声称第三次创业的时候，有一个人值得注意，他就是张继科。小小年纪不仅已经是大满贯，而且在圆满大满贯的时间和速度上已经超越了老瓦，孔令辉，刘国梁等前辈。如今，他依然在超车道上。
在刚刚结束的52届世界乒乓球锦标赛上，他蝉联世乒赛单打冠军，成了获取大满贯以后能够再次拿下顶级赛事冠军的第一人。接受采访时，他表示他要冲击第二个大满贯。哇塞，可怜他的对手，更可怜他的队友，既生瑜，何生亮？
是滴，此君极有个性，成名之前，曾因违反队规，遣退回省；2011年破茧而出，获得世乒赛单打冠军之后，当场当时当胸就撕开自己的T恤，还露出了背部的刺青，赫然一个英语单词“persistence”。也许是因为庆贺自己胜利的方式比较张扬，当时就有不少人质疑这个用词，觉得“perseverence”更合适。
张继科这个词究竟选得如何？我们来学究一把，辨析一下。
先回顾下字典的定义和例句。这两个名词都是由动词加了后缀而成，所以要挖挖词根的意思。
Definition:
persist
totry to do or continue doing something in a determined but oftenunreasonable way: （CambridgeAdvanced Learners' Dictionary）
ifyoupersistindoing something, you continue to do it, even though it is difficultor other people are against it. (CollinsCobuild Essential English Dictionary)
togo on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity,or warning (Merriam-WebsterOnline)
tostick to it; continue firmly; refuse to stop or to be changed(WorldBook Dictionary)
Examples:
小结：坚持做，坚定地做，不怕困难，不惧反对，甚至有点不讲理，固执地做
persevere
to try to do or continue doing something in adetermined way, despite having problems (CambridgeAdvanced Learners' Dictionary)
If youperseverewithsomething, you keep trying to do it and do not give up.(CollinsCobuild Essential English Dictionary)
topersistina state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences,opposition, or discouragement (Merriam-WebsterOnline Dictionary)
to continue steadily in doing something hard; persist (WorldBook Dictioanry)
Example
she persevered in her studies an graduatednear the top of her class.
Even though he was tired, he persevered andfinished the race.
小结：坚持做，不言弃，不怕问题，不在乎反对，不在乎有无鼓励，勇于克服障碍
对比结果可以看出，两个单词的基本意义相似，皆有坚持，决心和持衡之意。微细的差异主要体现在附加意义上:"persist"一词稍有偶有贬责之口气；而“persevere”一词则往往具有褒奖之意。
在对比动词词根的基础上，世界图书词典（World BookDictionary）是这样辨析“persistence”和“persevere”的。
Persistence， perseverancemeana holding fast to a purpose or course of action.
Persistence, having a good or bad sense according to one'sattitude toward what is done, emphasizes holding stubbornly orobstinately to one's purpose and continuing firmly and oftenannoyingly against disapproval, opposition, advice, or attempts atpersuasion:Bypersistence many people won religious freedom.
Perseverance, always in a good sense, emphasizes refusing tobe discouraged by obstacles or difficulties, but continuingsteadily with courage andpatience:Perseveranceled to his success.
上述观察和分析的结果还能得到常规搭配的佐证，请看下列对比
persistence
the persistence of a fly buzzing around one'shead(WorldBook Dictionary)【苍蝇在头顶嗡嗡地盘旋，挥之不去】
thestubborn persistence of a cough（WorldBook Dictionary）【顽固而持续的咳嗽】
perseverance
By perseverance the crippled boy learned how toswim.(WorldBook Dictionary)
Through hard work and perseverance, he workedhis way up from being a teacher in a village school to theheadmaster of a largecomprehensive.(Mirrian-WebsterOnline Dictioanry)
可以看出，在这些搭配例证中，“persistence”和“perseverance”是不可互换的，显示它们在褒贬上的细微差异。需要指出的是：“perseverance”一词往往还有“根据设定的目标坚持，不达目标不罢休”的含义。
最后让我们回到张继科刺青上的选词。
单就两个词而言，“perseverance”具有褒奖之意，而“persistence”则可有贬责之意。应该选哪一个毋庸赘言。
第二个选词的途径是明确选词的初衷用意。如果是励志，“perseverance”应为首选。但如果是提醒，甚至是警告，想劝诫不要顽固坚持自己的习性，“persistence”不是不能用，尤其是针对一个个性张扬，甚至张狂的人，屡屡违规的人。
张继科是想提醒自己，还是鼓励自己，我们不得而知，唯有选词人自己清楚。但有一点十分清楚：如果为励志而选用persistence,则错；如果以警示为由选择"perseverence"也错。
有没有第三个可能：“亲们，你们认为我一根筋，没错，我就是“a personofpersistence”,咋整我已经是大满贯了，我还要双满贯呢”。
