Translation guide
The English word "holding" can refer to physically grasping something, owning assets, containing something, or maintaining a state. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To have something in your hand or arms, or to keep it from moving.
General verb for holding or carrying something in your hand.
彼はカバンを持っている。
He is holding a bag.
To grip or hold tightly in your hand, often with fingers closed around the object.
She held the steering wheel firmly.
To hold something large or heavy in your arms, often against your body.
He was holding a big box.
To grab or hold onto something, often with a sense of seizing or catching.
The child held my hand.
To have ownership of something, especially financial assets or land.
To have the capacity to contain something, or to be able to hold a certain amount.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to fit' or 'to be held'. Use with potential form or quantity.
This room can hold 50 people.
To accommodate or hold people or things, often used for facilities.
To hold or maintain a certain capacity, often technical.
This tank can hold 1000 liters of water.
To keep something in a particular state, such as a record, a title, or a posture.
To maintain or keep a state, condition, or position.
He is holding the world record.
To sustain or uphold something, often used for systems or standards.
To leave something as it is, to hold it in its current state.
Please hold the door open.
To organize or conduct an event, meeting, or ceremony.
To wait on the phone or keep a connection open.
Polite phrase meaning 'please hold' or 'please wait', used on the phone.
Please hold for a moment.
More explicit 'please hold the line'.
Do not use 持つ (もつ) for holding events. Use 開催する (かいさいする) or 行う (おこなう) instead.
to hold a meeting (unnatural)
持つ (もつ) is general 'have/hold', while 保有する (ほゆうする) is formal and specifically used for holding assets or shares in business contexts.
He is holding a pen.
The bottle holds 500ml.
Please hold the line.
He is holding a lot of real estate.
She is holding vast land.
This stadium can hold 80,000 people.
They are holding high quality.
彼らは毎年フェスティバルを行っている。
They hold a festival every year.
友達のためにパーティーを開いた。
I held a party for my friend.
Please hold the line without hanging up.