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:

私は旅券を持っています。

Watashi wa ryokan o motte imasu

I have a passport.

I have a passport.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 旅券 (ryokken) - noun meaning "passport"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "passport"
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb that means "to have" or "to possess" in the present

私はたくさんの責任を持っています。

Watashi wa takusan no sekinin o motte imasu

I have many responsibilities.

I have a lot of responsibility.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• たくさんの (takusan no) - Japanese expression meaning "many" or "much"
• 責任 (sekinin) - Japanese noun meaning "responsibility"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, in this case "responsibility"
• 持っています (motteimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to have" or "to possess" in the present continuous tense

知性を持った人は魅力的です。

Chisei wo motta hito wa miryokuteki desu

People who are intelligent are attractive.

People with intelligence are attractive.

• 知性を持った人 - a person who possesses intelligence and knowledge
• は - Topic marking particle
• 魅力的です - is charming, attractive

石を持ってきてください。

Ishi o motte kite kudasai

Please bring a stone.

Please bring the stone.

• 石 (ishi) - stone
• を (wo) - object particle
• 持ってきて (motte kite) - bring (literally, "to hold and come")
• ください (kudasai) - please (a polite way to ask for something)

独特な感性を持っている。

Dokutoku na kansei wo motte iru

I have a unique sensitivity.

It has a unique sensitivity.

• 独特な - "dokutoku na" means "unique" or "distinct".
• 感性 - "kansei" means "sensibility" or "perception".
• を - direct object particle.
• 持っている - "motteiru" means "to have" or "to possess".

標語は人々の心を動かす力を持つ。

Hyōgo wa hitobito no kokoro o ugokasu chikara o motsu

Slogans have the power to move people's hearts.

The slogan has the power to move people's hearts.

• 標語 - means "slogan" in Japanese.
• は - a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, can be translated as "is".
• 人々 - means "people" in Japanese.
• の - a particle that indicates possession, can be translated as "of".
• 心 - means "heart" in Japanese.
• を - the particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, can be translated as "that".
• 動かす - means "to move" in Japanese.
• 力 - means "strength" in Japanese.
• を - the particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, can be translated as "that".
• 持つ - means "to have" in Japanese.
• . - period that indicates the end of the sentence.

教育は人生を変える力を持っています。

Kyouiku wa jinsei wo kaeru chikara wo motteimasu

Education has the power to change people's lives.

Education has the power to change lives.

• 教育 - Education
• は - Topic particle
• 人生 - Life
• を - Direct object particle
• 変える - change/transform
• 力 - power/strength
• を - Direct object particle
• 持っています - To/have

担架を持って来てください。

Tanaka o motte kite kudasai

Please bring a stretcher.

Please bring a stretcher.

• 担架 (tanka) - Litter
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 持って (motte) - carry, hold
• 来て (kite) - come, arrive
• ください (kudasai) - please, please about

愛は世界を変える力を持っています。

Ai wa sekai wo kaeru chikara wo motte imasu

Love has the power to change the world.

Love has the power to change the world.

• 愛 (ai) - love
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 世界 (sekai) - world
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 変える (kaeru) - change
• 力 (chikara) - power
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 持っています (motteimasu) - I'm sorry, but it seems like the text you provided is incomplete. Please provide a complete string for translation.
• . (ponto final) - punctuation mark

技術は社会を変える力を持っています。

Gijutsu wa shakai o kaeru chikara o motte imasu

Technology has the power to change society.

Technology has the power to change society.

• 技術 (gijutsu) - technology
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 社会 (shakai) - society
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 変える (kaeru) - change/transform
• 力 (chikara) - power/strength
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 持っています (motteimasu) - have/holding