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持ち合わせ (mochiawase) Japanese meaning: things on hand | Kotomora

持もち合あわせ

も

ち

あ

わ

せ

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

things on hand; things in stock

Refers to items or goods one currently has available, often in a physical or inventory sense.

持もち合あわせの材ざい料りょうで夕ゆう食しょくを作つくった。

I made dinner with the ingredients I had on hand.

2

money on hand; cash at hand

Specifically refers to money one has available, such as cash in a wallet or pocket.

持もち合あわせが足たりなくて、カードで払はらった。
I didn't have enough cash on hand, so I paid by card.

3

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

on hand; in stock

Used attributively with の to describe something that is currently available or in one's possession.

持もち合あわせの知ち識しきでは答こたえられなかった。
I couldn't answer with the knowledge I had on hand.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉の持もち合あわせがあるto have something (money, an item) on hand
今いま、現げん金きんの持もち合あわせがある。
I happen to have some cash on hand right now.
持もち合あわせがないto not have any money on hand
すみません、今いま持もち合あわせがありません。
Sorry, I don't have any cash on me right now.
持もち合あわせの〈物もの〉the (item) one happens to have on hand
持もち合あわせの傘かさを貸かしてあげた。
I lent him the umbrella I happened to have with me.

Kanji

持hold, have
合fit, suit, join

Related words

手て持もち sense 1
手持ち stresses items or cash one is physically carrying or holding, while 持ち合わせ stresses what one happens to have available at the moment, especially cash.
在ざい庫こN1sense 1
在庫 refers to a business's stock or inventory, while 持ち合わせ is personal, referring to what an individual currently has with them.
所しょ持じ金きん sense 2
所持金 is a more formal or official term for the cash a person is carrying, whereas 持ち合わせ is the everyday, conversational word for the same thing.

Don't confuse with

待まち合あわせN3
待ち合わせ (meeting up with someone) is easily confused with 持ち合わせ (things/money on hand) because they sound and look similar but have completely unrelated meanings.
持もち合あい
持ち合わせ means the cash or items one happens to have on hand at the moment, while 持ち合い refers to mutual shareholding or a stable market condition.

Written forms

持もち合あわせUsage79%
Standard kanji spelling; common in news and everyday use.
持もちあわせUsage11%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not a standard written form.
持合もちあわせUsage6%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not a standard written form.

Etymology

Compound of 持ち (mochi, 'holding') + 合わせ (awase, 'matching' or 'combining'), from the verb 持ち合わせる (to have on hand). The noun form refers to what one happens to have available.

持も

ち

合あわ

せ

Usage4%

search-only kanji form

Search-only variant; not a standard written form.

もち合あわせ

Kana-mixed spelling; sometimes used for clarity or simplicity.