How to Write 持 (hold, have) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 持 (“hold, have”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 持 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 持つ (もつ (motsu) — hold), 持ち (もち (mochi) — hold).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (持)
Primary Radical (部首): 手 — て / てへん (hand)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Hands, holding, grasping, craft, and manual action
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジ) when 持 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (も.つ, -も.ち, も.てる) when 持 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 持 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 手 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
手 (meaning) + 寺 (sound ジ)
Derived from the meaning radical 手 (て / てへん (hand)) and the phonetic component 寺, giving the on-reading ジ / シ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 持
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 持 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 持 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 持 ("hold, have") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 持 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 手 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 持?
For 持 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is ジ and the Kunyomi is も.つ, -も.ち, も.てる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジ) when 持 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (も.つ, -も.ち, も.てる) when 持 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 持 includes 持つ (もつ (motsu) — hold), 持ち (もち (mochi) — hold).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 持 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 持 (hold, have), start with the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 持 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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