持 means “hold”

もつ · motsu

Also: have

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

もつ, もてる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ジ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 9 strokes

The story

A hand gripping a temple pillar: to hold something is to make it part of yourself, carrying its weight with care.

Used in 持つ (motsu, to hold/carry) and 気持ち (kimochi, feeling)

More from Actions & Movement

• 登 climb
• 座 sit
• 開 open
• 見 see
• 行 go
• 来 come
• 入 enter
• 出 go out
• 立 stand
• 聞 hear
• 話 speak
• 読 read

Learn 持 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.