持つ
もつ
hepburn motsu
to hold, to have
Part of speech · godan-verb
Pattern visualization
Examples
- かばんを持ってください。Please hold the bag.
- 私は車を持っていません。I don't own a car.
Collocations
持つ (motsu, to hold, to have)持っている (motte iru, owning state)所有する (shoyuu suru, to own formal)持ち物 (mochimono, belongings)気持ち (kimochi, feeling, lit. held mood)
Mnemonic
Motsu (持つ) is a godan verb merging physical "to hold" and abstract "to have / own." The progressive / resultative motte iru is the default ownership form — kuruma o motte iru (I own a car). Tense split: plain motsu hints at the momentary act of taking up, motte iru is enduring state. English and Korean split have / hold; Japanese unifies and uses the te-iru helper. The compound kimochi (気持ち = feeling) is "the state of holding a heart" — core of body + motsu metaphor. Rich chain: mochimono (belongings), mochinushi (owner).
Quick check
Difference between "motte imasu" and "mochimasu"?