Non-PRO Chinese to English Social Sciences Education / Pedagogy Grammatikalische Analyse (Grammatical Analysis)

Sentence: 這個表，我已經保在了十年，現在我把它送給你，你要嗎？

First Attempt: I have kept this watch for 10 years, and now I am going to give it to you. Do you need it?

Question: I am concerned about the phrase 已經保在了十年. What does 保在 mean. Does it simply mean that the watch has been in the speaker's possession 10 years? For example, he could have worn it for ten years. Or, he could have put it some place for safe keeping, and it remained there for 10 years.

Or, does it imply something more -- for example, that the speaker has held onto the watch for ten years for the purpose of someday giving it to the listener?

Please provide a thorough explanation with your answer.

As always you are welcome to comment on any part of my translation or offer one of your own. Please do not forget to answer the designated question for the entry, however.

Reference: http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...

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