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:

盾を持って戦いましょう。

Tate wo motte tatakaimashou

Let's fight a shield.

• 盾 (tate) - shield
• を (wo) - object particle
• 持って (motte) - segurando
• 戦いましょう (tatakaimashou) - let's fight

私は学士の学位を持っています。

Watashi wa gakushi no gakui o motte imasu

I have a bachelor's degree.

I have a bachelor degree.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 学士 (gakushi) - Japanese noun that means "bachelor."
• の (no) - Japanese particle that indicates possession or relationship between nouns
• 学位 (gakui) - Japanese noun meaning "academic degree"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to have" or "to possess" in the present continuous tense

私はその詳しい情報を持っていません。

Watashi wa sono kuwashii jōhō o motte imasen

I have no detailed information about it.

I don't have this detailed information.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• その (sono) - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that" or "those"
• 詳しい (kuwashii) - Adjective that means "detailed" or "thorough"
• 情報 (jouhou) - noun meaning "information" or "data"
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 持っていません (motteimasen) - Verb that means "do not have" or "do not possess", conjugated in the negative and polite form.

私は誇りを持っています。

Watashi wa hokori o motteimasu

I am proud.

I'm proud.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "I"
• 誇り (hokori) - noun meaning "pride"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating that "pride" is the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb that means "to have" or "to own", conjugated in the affirmative present

私は美しいネックレスを持っています。

Watashi wa utsukushii nekkuresu o motte imasu

I have a beautiful necklace.

I have a beautiful necklace.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• ネックレス (nekkuresu) - noun meaning "glue"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "colar"
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb meaning "to have", conjugated in the present affirmative

私は勉強に欠かせない辞書を持っています。

Watashi wa benkyou ni kakasenai jisho wo motteimasu

I have a dictionary that is essential for my studies.

I have a dictionary that is essential for studying.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 勉強 (benkyou) - noun meaning "study"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the purpose or objective of the action, in this case, "for"
• 欠かせない (kakasenai) - adjective that means "indispensable"
• 辞書 (jisho) - noun that means "dictionary"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "dictionary"
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb that means "to have"

私は毎日水筒を持っています。

Watashi wa mainichi suidō o motte imasu

I carry a water bottle every day.

I have a bottle of water every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 水筒 (suito) - The translation for "garrafa de água" is "water bottle".
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb that means "have" or "carry" in the affirmative present

私は杖を持っています。

Watashi wa tsue o motte imasu

I have a cane.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 杖 (tsue) - noun that means "cane" or "stick"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - verb that means "to have" or "to own", conjugated in the affirmative present

私は自信を持ってこの試験に臨みます。

Watashi wa jishin o motte kono shiken ni nozomimasu

I will face this exam with confidence.

I will have confidence in this exam.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun, means "I"
• は (wa) - Topic particle, indicates the subject of the sentence
• 自信 (jishin) - noun, means "trust"
• を (wo) - direct object particle, indicates the object of the action
• 持って (motte) - verb, means "to have/possess"
• この (kono) - demonstrative adjective, meaning "this"
• 試験 (shiken) - noun, means "exam/test"
• に (ni) - destination particle, indicates the place/goal of the action
• 臨みます (nozomimasu) - verb, means "to face/confront"

私は定期券を持っています。

Watashi wa teikiken wo motteimasu

I have a monthly pass.

I have a traveler pass.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 定期券 (teikiken) - It means "monthly pass" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 持っています (motteimasu) - It means "I have" in Japanese.