(bǎo, ㄅㄠˇ) to defend; to protect; to insure or guarantee; to maintain; hold or keep; to guard; abbr. for Bulgaria [CE-DICT]
持
(chí, ㄔˊ) to grasp; to hold; support; manage; direct; maintain [CE-DICT]
先
(せん) (adj-no,n) (1) former; previous; old; (n) (2) first move (in go, shogi, etc.); opening move [EDICT]
(さき) (n,adj-no,n-suf,pref) (1) previous; prior; former; some time ago; preceding; (2) point (e.g. pencil); tip; end; nozzle; (3) head (of a line); front; (4) ahead; the other side; (5) the future; hereafter; (6) destination; (7) the other party; (P) [EDICT]
(xiān, ㄒㄧㄢ) early; prior; former; in advance; first [CE-DICT]