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持

持 — hold, have

Learn the correct stroke order for 持 (hold), a 9-stroke kanji.

JLPT N4Grade 39 strokes

Stroke Order

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Stroke 0 / 9
On'yomi (音読み)ジji
Kun'yomi (訓読み)も.つmotsu、-も.ちmochi、も.てるmoteru
Strokes9
Radical手
Frequency#119
Meaningshold, have

Step-by-Step Diagram

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Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 9 — start from the green dot

Common Words

維持いじmaintenance; preservation; improvementnoun
堅持けんじadhering to (a view, policy, etc.); sticking to; holding fast tonoun
支持しじsupport; backing; endorsementnoun
持つもつto hold (in one's hand); to take; to carryverb
持久じきゅうendurance; persistencenoun
持参じさんbringing; taking; carryingnoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 持 (hold) is taught in grade 3 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N4 level. It has 9 strokes with radical 手.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 持 is #119, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

維持いじ — maintenance; preservation; improvement
堅持けんじ — adhering to (a view, policy, etc.); sticking to; holding fast to
支持しじ — support; backing; endorsement

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Same radical (手)

才genius手hand打strike払pay扱handle投throw技skill批criticism

Same reading

事matter自oneself地ground仕attend字character

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 持 have?

The kanji 持 (hold) has 9 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 持?

持 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 持 mean?

持 means: hold, have. On'yomi readings: ジ. Kun'yomi readings: も.つ, -も.ち, も.てる.

What JLPT level is 持?

持 is a JLPT N4 kanji. This is a beginner-level kanji.