Translation and Meaning of: 持つ - motsu

The Japanese word 「持つ」 (motsu) is a verb that means "to hold," "to own," or "to have." This expression is commonly used in everyday Japanese to convey the idea of being in possession of something, whether physical or abstract. The use of 「持つ」 encompasses various situations, from holding an object with one's hands to having an opinion or feeling.

Etymologically, 「持つ」 is composed of the kanji 「持」, which by itself conveys the meaning of "to hold" or "to support." This kanji is formed by two radicals: 「扌」(te-hen), which relates to manual actions, and 「寺」 (tera), which originally means "temple." When combined, they transmit the idea of supporting something with the hands. This combination is a perfect representation of the action of holding, which is central to the meaning of 「持つ」.

The verb 「持つ」 is very versatile in the Japanese language and can be conjugated in different forms to express nuances of time and situation. Some common variations of this verb include 「持った」 (motta), which is the past of "to hold," and 「持っている」 (motte iru), which can be translated as "to be holding" or "to be possessing" in a continuous sense. In the negative form, we find 「持たない」 (motenai), which means "not to hold" or "not to have."

In the cultural context, 「持つ」 can reflect Japanese traditions of valuing what one possesses, whether material, such as handcrafted objects, or immaterial, such as knowledge and experiences. This verb is an integral part of the Japanese language and illustrates well the relationship people have with the things around them, a reflection of Japan's unique worldview.

Vocabulary

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Verb conjugation of 持つ

• 持つ - basic form
• 持っている - Present form
• 持った - past form
• 持って行く - Progressive form

Synonyms and similar words

• 持ちます (Mochimasu) - Have, hold
• 保つ (Tamotsu) - Maintain, preserve (usually focusing on state or condition)
• 手に入れる (Te ni ireru) - Obtain, get (emphasizes the action of acquiring something)
• 手元に置く (Temoto ni oku) - Put within reach, have on hand
• 手に持つ (Te ni motsu) - Hold hands
• 手中に収める (Shuchuu ni osameru) - To have under control, to master something
• 持ち運ぶ (Mochihauka) - Transport, carry (focus on moving something from one place to another)
• 持ち歩く (Mochi aruku) - Carry with you, take (walk with something)
• 携える (Tazusawaru) - Carry along, bear (emphasizes the idea of carrying together)
• 携帯する (Keitai suru) - Charge (usually refers to devices like cell phones)
• 持参する (Jisan suru) - Take along, bring (refers to bringing something on a trip)
• 持ち込む (Mochikomu) - Enter with, bring in (emphasizes the entry)
• 持ち帰る (Mochikaeru) - Bring back, take back (emphasizes the return with something)
• 持ち出す (Mochidasu) - Remove, take out (emphasizes the action of taking out from a place)
• 持ち上げる (Mochiageru) - Lift, raise (emphasizes the action of lifting something)
• 持ち続ける (Mochitsuzukeru) - Continue to have, maintain continuously
• 持ち堪える (Mochitaeru) - Support, endure (emphasizes the idea of hanging on)
• 持ち合わせる (Mochiawaseru) - Be equipped with, have available (refers to having something on hand)

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持つ

Romaji: motsu
Kana: もつ
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: to maintain; to possess; to take

Meaning in English: to hold;to possess;to carry

Definition: I have this in my hand.

Example Sentences - (持つ) motsu

See below some example sentences:

私は野心を持っています。

Watashi wa yashin wo motte imasu

I have ambition.

I have ambitious.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 野心 (yashin) - It means "ambition" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - means "to have" or "to possess" in Japanese, in the present and polite tense

私は吃逆を持っています。

Watashi wa kisugyaku wo motteimasu

I have dysphagia.

I have a stutter.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 吃逆 - Japanese word meaning "acid reflux"
• を - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています - Japanese verb meaning "to have" or "to possess", conjugated in the present tense

私は毎日弁当を持っています。

Watashi wa mainichi bentou wo motteimasu

I take a lunch box every day.

I lunch every day.

• 私 - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the theme of the sentence
• 毎日 - means "every day" in Japanese
• 弁当 - means "lunchbox" in Japanese
• を - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています - means "I have" in Japanese, being that 持って (motte) means "to carry" or "to have in hands" and います (imasu) is the polite form of the verb "to be" or "to be".

私たちはゆとりを持って生きることが大切だと思います。

Watashitachi wa yutori o motte ikiru koto ga taisetsu da to omoimasu

I think it's important to live with lots of space.

• 私たち - 「私たち」
• は - Japanese topic particle
• ゆとり - "Space" or "Margin" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 持って - "Have" or "Keep" in Japanese
• 生きる - "Viver" in Japanese
• こと - nominal particle in Japanese
• が - Subject particle in Japanese.
• 大切 - "importante" in Japanese
• と - Japanese quotation particle
• 思います - "Think" in Japanese (polite form)

私たちはすべて感情を持っています。

Watashitachi wa subete kanjou o motteimasu

We all have emotions.

• 私たちは - We
• すべて - all
• 感情 - Emotions
• を - object particle
• 持っています - We have

私たちは常に広い視野を持つ必要があります。

Watashitachi wa tsuneni hiroi shiya o motsu hitsuyō ga arimasu

We must always have a wide field of vision.

• 私たちは - We
• 常に - Always
• 広い - Wide
• 視野 - Vision/perspective
• を - Direct object particle
• 持つ - To/have
• 必要があります - Is required

私たちは常に目標を持って前進することが大切です。

Watashitachi wa tsuneni mokuhyō o motte zenshin suru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important that we always advance with our goals.

• 私たちは - We
• 常に - Always
• 目標を - Goals
• 持って - TO HAVE
• 前進することが - advance
• 大切です - is important

私たちは勇気を持って戦う必要があります。

Watashitachi wa yūki o motte tatakau hitsuyō ga arimasu

We need to fight with courage.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 勇気を持って - "With courage"
• 戦う - "lutar"
• 必要があります - "It is necessary"

私たちは強い結び付きを持っています。

Watashitachi wa tsuyoi musubitsuki o motteimasu

We have a strong bond.

We have a strong tie.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 強い - "strong" adjective
• 結び付き - noun "link, connection"
• を - direct object particle
• 持っています - verb "to have, to possess" in the present tense

私の夢は牧場を持つことです。

Watashi no yume wa bokujou wo motsu koto desu

My dream is to have a farm.

My dream is to have a ranch.

• 私の夢は - "Watashi no yume wa" means "My dream is"
• 牧場を - "Bokujou wo" means "a farm"
• 持つこと - "Motsu koto" means "to have"
• です - "Desu" is a particle that indicates a formal statement