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取り持つ (とりもつ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

取とり持もつ

と

り

も

つ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-tsu), transitive verb

mediate; act as go-between; arrange

Used when a person facilitates communication, introductions, or negotiations between two or more parties.

彼かれが両りょう者しゃの間あいだを取とり持もってくれた。
He mediated between the two parties for us.
友ゆう人じんが縁えん

談だん

を

取と

り

持も

っ

た

。

A friend arranged the marriage proposal.

2

godan verb (-tsu), transitive verb

entertain (guests); treat; receive

Refers to hosting or looking after guests, often in a social or business setting, making them feel welcome.

社しゃ長ちょうが来らい客きゃくを丁てい寧ねいに取とり持もった。
The company president courteously entertained the visitors.
彼かの女じょはいつも笑え顔がおで客きゃくを取とり持もつ。
She always receives guests with a smile.

Written forms

取とり持もつUsage66%
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and general writing.
とりもつUsage29%
取とり持もつUsage3%
Simplified variant; less common but still seen.
執とり持もつUsage3%
Formal or literary variant; rarely used in everyday writing.
執とり持もつ
Very rare simplified form of 執り持つ.

Kanji

取take, fetch, take up
持hold, have
執tenacious, take hold, grasp

Similar words

仲ちゅう介かいする
仲介する is more formal and often used for official mediation or brokerage, while 取り持つ implies a personal, often informal role in facilitating relationships or conversations.
もてなす
もてなす focuses on hospitality and entertaining guests with food, drink, and attention, whereas 取り持つ in the entertaining sense emphasizes the act of receiving and looking after guests, often in a business context.

Etymology

Compound of 取り (tori, continuative form of 取る 'to take') + 持つ (motsu 'to hold'). The combination yields the sense of 'taking and holding' a relationship or situation, hence mediating or entertaining.