Translation guide
The English verb "hold" covers many physical and abstract meanings. In Japanese, different words and patterns are used depending on what is being held, how, and why. This guide breaks down the most common uses for learners.
To have something in your hand, or to take and keep it there.
The most general verb for holding something in your hand. Works for objects of any size.
Please hold the pen.
彼はカバンを持っている。
He is holding a bag.
To grip or grasp firmly, often with the whole hand. Implies a tighter hold than 持つ.
手を握ってください。
Please hold my hand.
彼はハンドルをしっかり握った。
He held the steering wheel tightly.
To grab, seize, or hold onto something, often with a sense of catching or clutching.
彼は私の腕を掴んだ。
He grabbed my arm.
To hold something while moving, or to support its weight.
Also used for carrying something. Context makes the meaning clear.
この荷物を持ってくれますか？
Can you hold this luggage for me?
To support physically, to hold up. Used for holding a person or a structure.
To have the capacity for a certain amount or number.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to fit, to be contained'. The container is the subject.
この部屋には50人入ります。
This room holds 50 people.
Formal/technical term for accommodating people or things.
このスタジアムは8万人を収容できる。
This stadium can hold 80,000 people.
To cause something to remain in a certain condition.
Use 保つ (たもつ) to mean 'keep, maintain'. Often used with adjectives in adverbial form.
部屋を暖かく保ってください。
Please hold the room warm.
Means 'to leave/keep something in a state'. More casual than 保つ.
ドアを開けたままにしておいて。
Hold the door open.
To arrange and conduct a meeting, party, etc.
To hold an event like a party, meeting, or exhibition.
来月、会議を開きます。
We will hold a meeting next month.
Formal term for holding events, especially large-scale ones.
オリンピックは東京で開催された。
The Olympics were held in Tokyo.
To have a particular opinion or belief.
The standard way to say 'I hold that...' or 'I think that...'.
彼は正しいと思う。
I hold that he is right.
To regard or consider as. More formal.
彼は有罪と見なされた。
He was held to be guilty.
To stay on the line without hanging up.
Polite phrase meaning 'please hold the line'. Literally 'please wait as you are'.
少々そのままお待ちください。
Please hold for a moment.
Literally 'please wait without hanging up'.
切らずにお待ちください。
Please hold the line.
To bear weight, pressure, or difficulty without breaking.
To endure, withstand. Used for physical or emotional pressure.
この橋は強い地震に耐えられる。
This bridge can hold against strong earthquakes.
While 持つ is the most common translation for 'hold', it doesn't work for holding events, containing capacity, or holding a belief. Using it in those contexts will sound unnatural.
持つ is general 'hold'. 握る implies a firm grip (like a fist). 掴む implies grabbing or seizing, often with a sense of catching something moving.
そのボトルは2リットル入ります。
The bottle holds 2 liters.
ドアを押さえておいてください。
Hold the door, please.
Literally 'keep the door pressed/stopped'. 持つ would be wrong here.
彼は倒れそうな木を支えた。
He held up the falling tree.
To hold out, to last. Often used in sports or battles.
チームは最後まで持ちこたえた。
The team held on until the end.