One of the best Japanese Kanji dictionary.

Share this page

Kanji Detail for 持 - "to hold, to have"

持

  • Meaning

    持 means "to hold, to have." Also associated with to keep.

    1. Hold - To grasp; to carry.

    2. Keep - To maintain; to preserve.

    3. Have - To possess; to own.

  • Words using 持

    • 維持 いじ Listen maintenance; preservation; improvement
    • 気持ち きもち Listen feeling; sensation; mood
    • 保持 ほじ Listen retention; maintenance; preservation
    • 持ち もち Listen having; holding; possessing
    • 持ち込む もちこむ Listen to bring in; to take in; to carry in
    • 持つ もつ Listen to hold (in one's hand); to take; to carry
    • 持続 じぞく Listen continuation; persisting; lasting
    • 持ち味 もちあじ Listen inherent flavor; inherent flavour; natural taste

  • Four-character idioms with 持

    • 加持祈祷 かじきとう Listen incantation and prayer
    • 現状維持 げんじょういじ Listen maintaining the status quo

  • Tattoo check: 持

    • Verified meaning: to hold, to have
    • Official Jōyō kanji — a standard character every Japanese reader recognises
    • Used in real Japanese given names (read たもつ, もち, もちさき, もちとく)
    • Also carries these associations: to keep

    A single kanji rarely maps one-to-one onto an English word. Read the meanings and associations above as a set — a character that fits the dictionary definition can still carry a connotation you did not intend.

  • Name readings of 持

    Given names 持(たもつ)Listen

    Surnames 持(もち)Listen 持(もちさき)Listen 持(もちとく)Listen

  • Dictionary Citations

    The meaning above is based on the following sources:

    KANJIDIC2 A comprehensive Japanese-English kanji dictionary

    hold; have

    Unihan Unicode Han Database for CJK characters

    sustain, support; hold, grasp

    CC-CEDICT A Chinese-English dictionary

    to hold; to grasp; to support; to maintain; to persevere; to manage; to run (i.e. administer); to control

    Make Me a Hanzi Open-source Chinese character data

    to hold, to support, to sustain

    XSZD Xuéshēng Zìdiǎn (學生字典) - Student's Dictionary

    To hold. Such as 持節. Also 操持, like saying to manage, meaning all actions require holding something. Hence, being in charge is 主持. Now, the head monk of a Buddhist temple is 住持, same meaning. All uses of 持 have the meaning of holding firmly. Such as preserving being 保持; monopolizing being 把持; coercing being 挾持; restraining oneself being 矜持; being indecisive being 不自持. Also 扶持, meaning supporting to prevent falling. Such as 維持, 支持. Also, two sides resisting each other is 相持不下.

  • Onyomi

    tip

    ji(ジ) ジ

  • Kunyomi

    tip

    mo.teru(も-てる) も-てる

    mo.tsu(も-つ) も-つ

    mochi(もち) もち

  • Strokes

    tip

    9 strokes

  • Radical

    tip

    手 扌 (te・tehen)

  • Related Keywords

    to hold to keep to have possess carry maintain retain grasp grip clasp embrace sustain support preserve own contain cherish harbor hoard wield occupy defend guard protect secure

Sentences including 持

  • I've got time on my hands.

  • Bill has stock in that company.

  • Do you have any small change?

  • I have five here and as many again.

  • I have a pen.

  • This is the same car as i have.

  • He has a lot of books on history.

  • Do you have anything to eat?

  • Don't change your mind.

  • Please take one.

Sentences from Japanese classical masterpieces

More kanji with the radical 手 扌 (te・tehen)

See all kanji with this radical →

Share This Page

Share this link via

Or copy link