持つ vs 取る
JLPT N5 vocabulary · what is the difference?
持つ is having something in your hand or owning it — and in practice you will meet it most often as 持っている, meaning "to have". 取る is the movement of reaching out and picking something up. You 取る the salt off the table, and then you 持つ it.
When to use each
持つ
もつ
Use 持つ for having something with you, in your hand, or as a possession. For possession the form is almost always 持っている, not plain 持つ.
傘を持っていますか。
かさをもっていますか。
Do you have an umbrella with you?
重そうですね。かばんを持ちましょうか。
おもそうですね。かばんをもちましょうか。
That looks heavy. Shall I carry your bag?
取る
とる
Use 取る for the one-off action of taking something into your hand — reaching, picking up, passing. It also covers fixed uses such as 休みを取る and ノートを取る.
すみません、塩を取ってください。
すみません、しおをとってください。
Excuse me, could you pass the salt?
棚の上の箱を取ってもらえますか。
たなのうえのはこをとってもらえますか。
Could you get the box down off the shelf for me?
Sentences where only one works
お金を持っていません。
おかねをもっていません。
I don't have any money.
Possession, so 持っている. 取っていません would mean you did not pick any up.
机の上のペンを取って、書き始めました。
つくえのうえのペンをとって、かきはじめました。
I picked up the pen on the desk and started writing.
The moment of reaching and grasping is 取る.
来週、三日休みを取ります。
らいしゅう、みっかやすみをとります。
I'm taking three days off next week.
A fixed collocation: 休みを取る. 持つ is impossible here.
彼女は車を持っています。
かのじょはくるまをもっています。
She has a car.
Ownership over time — only 持っている.
Common mistakes
傘を取っていますか。
傘を持っていますか。
To ask whether someone has something with them, use 持っている. 取っている sounds like they are in the middle of grabbing one.
塩を持ってください。
塩を取ってください。
At the table you want the salt passed to you, which is 取る. 持ってください asks the listener to hold it, which is not what you mean.
私は車を持つ。
私は車を持っています。
Plain 持つ is not used for stating what you own. Japanese marks a continuing state with the 〜ている form.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it always 持っている and not 持つ?
Because possession is a state, and Japanese marks states with 〜ている. Plain 持つ appears mostly in future or general statements, like 将来、家を持ちたい.
Which one means "to bring"?
Neither on its own — use 持っていく to take something there and 持ってくる to bring it here.
Can 取る mean steal?
It can, in context: 人の物を取る sounds like taking what isn't yours. For a clear "steal", the word is 盗む.