313.持


1. Meaning and Reading

  • hold, have, possess
  • Onyomi :
  • Kunyomi :

2. Kanji Explanation

  • 寺 : temple
  • 扌 : hand

From the image of carrying offerings by hand (扌) to a temple (寺), it came to mean ‘to hold’ or ‘to possess’.

kanji illustration

3. Example Words

持つ もつ
to hold, to have

I am holding a card in my hand.

持続 じぞく
persistence

Continuous effort is necessary.