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to hold, to carry, to possess
この袋を持ってください
Please hold this bag
彼は重要な役割を持っている
He holds an important role
Commonly used for physical objects or abstract concepts like responsibilities
to have, to own
私は車を持っています
I have a car
彼女は多くの本を持っている
She has many books
Often used interchangeably with 所有する (shoyuu suru) for possession
Use 持っています (motte imasu) in formal contexts
Use for both physical objects and abstract concepts like responsibilities
From Old Japanese 'motu', meaning to grasp or hold
Can be used for both physical and abstract possession. The polite form is 持っています (motte imasu).