What does 持 mean in Japanese?
持 means to hold, to carry, or to have. The kun’yomi 持つ (motsu) covers both physically holding something in your hand — かばんを持つ (to hold a bag) — and possessing or owning something — お金を持つ (to have money). It is one of the most useful everyday verbs at N4 because it bridges the ideas of holding and having.
持 also appears in one of the highest-frequency words in all of Japanese: 気持ち (kimochi, feeling/mood). The on’yomi ジ shows up in more formal compounds such as 持参 (jisan, bringing something with you) and 維持 (iji, maintenance/keeping up). The left-side hand radical 扌 ties the kanji back to the idea of holding.
Reading
On’yomi: ジ (ji)
Kun’yomi: も-つ (mo-tsu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 持 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | hold, have, carry, possess |
| Stroke Count | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
持つ (motsu) has two closely linked senses. Physically holding or carrying: かばんを持つ (hold a bag), 荷物を持つ (carry luggage). Possessing or owning: 車を持つ (own a car), 自信を持つ (have confidence). 気持ち (kimochi) is feeling or mood — 気持ちがいい (it feels good), 気持ちが落ち着く (one’s mood settles). 持参 (jisan) is a more formal word for bringing something with you, common in instructions and invitations: 筆記用具を持参する (bring writing implements). 維持 (iji) means maintaining or keeping something up: 健康を維持する (maintain one’s health), 現状維持 (keeping the status quo).
Common Words
- 持つ（もつ / motsu） — to hold, to carry, to have
- 気持ち（きもち / kimochi） — feeling, mood
- 持ち物（もちもの / mochimono） — belongings, things one carries
- 金持ち（かねもち / kanemochi） — rich person, the wealthy
- 持参（じさん / jisan） — bringing (something) with you
- 維持（いじ / iji） — maintenance, keeping up
Example Sentences
-
重い荷物を持ちましょうか。
おもいにもつをもちましょうか。 / Omoi nimotsu o mochimashou ka.
Shall I carry the heavy luggage for you?
-
温泉に入ると気持ちがいいです。
おんせんにはいるときもちがいいです。 / Onsen ni hairu to kimochi ga ii desu.
It feels wonderful to get into a hot spring.
-
試験には鉛筆を持参してください。
しけんにはえんぴつをじさんしてください。 / Shiken ni wa enpitsu o jisan shite kudasai.
Please bring a pencil to the exam.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
持つ vs 持っている is the key grammar point. 持つ describes the action of taking hold of or holding something, often at a single moment: かばんを持ちます (I’ll hold/take the bag). 持っている describes the ongoing state of holding or — very importantly — possessing: かばんを持っている (I have/am holding a bag), 車を持っている (I own a car). For ‘I have ~’ in the sense of owning something, 持っている is almost always the natural form.
気持ち (kimochi) is one of the most important words at N4. 気持ちいい (kimochi ii) means pleasant, comfortable, feels good — a warm bath, a cool breeze. 気持ち悪い (kimochi warui) is the opposite: unpleasant, gross, or feeling sick or nauseous. These two expressions are extremely common in daily conversation, and learners should master both. お気持ち is the polite form, used when acknowledging someone’s feelings.
持参する is more formal than the casual 持ってくる (motte kuru, to bring). 持参 appears in printed instructions, invitations, and announcements: お弁当を持参してください (please bring your own lunch), 上履きを持参 (bring indoor shoes). In casual speech, 持ってくる is more natural: お弁当を持ってきてください.
The suffix 〜持ち turns a noun into ‘a person who has ~.’ 金持ち (kanemochi, a rich person) = 金 (money) + 持ち. 力持ち (chikaramochi, a physically strong person) = 力 (strength) + 持ち. 子持ち (komochi, a person who has children). Recognising this pattern helps you decode many compounds.
Summary
持 means to hold, carry, and possess, with 持つ (motsu) as the core verb and 持っている expressing ongoing possession. 気持ち (feeling/mood) is the highest-frequency compound, while 持参 (bringing) and 維持 (maintenance) cover more formal uses. The 〜持ち suffix marks a person who has something.