JLPT N4 kanji. Readings, meaning, and how the character is built.
持 means to hold, have. It is a JLPT N4 kanji written in 9 strokes, read もつ or じ. It combines 扌 (hand), which carries the meaning, with 寺, which is there for its sound じ. It appears in 持つ (to hold / to carry) and 気持ち (feeling / mood / sensation).
持 is written in 9 strokes, in the order numbered below. Order matters: it is what makes handwriting legible, and it is how the character is looked up in a paper dictionary.
持 breaks into 2 parts.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 持つ | もつ | to hold / to carry |
| 気持ち | きもち | feeling / mood / sensation |
| 持参 | じさん | bringing / taking / carrying |
寺 tends to carry the sound じ. They carry it; they do not all mean the same thing.
| Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| 寺 | じ | Buddhist temple |
| 時 | じ | time, hour |
| 持 | じ | hold, have |
| 侍 | じ | waiter, samurai |
| 峙 | じ | tower, soar |
These use 扌 or 寺 too. The part keeps its job from one character to the next, which is what makes it worth learning once.
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