ChiramiN4 kanji · 9 strokes
持 means hold, have
持
扌 hand
持Memory trick
A hand holding on tight: to hold, to have.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- hold, have
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 9
- School grade
- Grade 3 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) もつ motsu
もつ (motsu) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: もてる moteru
From Chinese (onyomi) ジ ji
ジ (ji) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
持つ もつ · motsu
to hold, to take
Built from
- 扌 hand
- 土 soil
- 寸 measure, hand
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
寸 Used in 47 kanji
See all 5 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 持 mean?
Right: 持 means hold, have.Not quite: 持 means hold, have.In 持つ, which reading does 持 use?
Right. 持つ is read もつ (motsu): 持 takes も, its Japanese reading, with つ after it.Not quite. 持つ is read もつ (motsu): 持 takes も, its Japanese reading, with つ after it.