To Hold Something
To Carry Something, To Own Something, To Keep Something
godan verb
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb.
The kanji itself means hold and the verb version is to hold something, to carry something, to own something, or to keep something.
This is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. You hold something, like chopsticks, have something, like power, or keep something, like your friend's book over the weekend.
もつ
If you try to hold something in your hand long enough it will mold (も). And then that mold will cover your hand, then your arm, then your entire body. Basically, you should never hold anything for too long or you'll become a mold person.
あらきさんは、けしゴムを持っていますか？
Do you have an eraser, Araki?
コウイチは、実はなんしきやきゅうしんぱん員のしかくを持っています...というのは実はうそです。
Actually, Koichi has a license to be a soft baseball referee ...actually, that's a lie.
一等に当選したことを知った時、宝くじを持つ手の震えが止まらなかった。
When I realized I won the grand prize, the hand I was holding the lottery ticket with couldn’t help but shake.