In Japanese, the concept of "have" or possession is expressed through several different verbs depending on what is being possessed and the context. The three main verbs are: -
持つ (motsu) - to hold, to possess (for physical objects you can hold) -
ある (aru) - to exist, to have (for inanimate objects) -
いる (iru) - to exist, to have (for animate beings like people, animals)
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Question: What does "have" mean in Japanese? Answer: In Japanese, "have" is expressed through three main verbs: 持つ (motsu) for physical possession, ある (aru) for having inanimate things, and いる (iru) for having animate beings. The choice depends on what is possessed and the context.
This lesson will demonstrate the various ways to express possession and "having" in Japanese through 30 practical examples. You'll learn when to use each verb form and understand the subtle distinctions Japanese makes that don't exist in English.
Subject: Japanese Language Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Topic: Possession and Existence Verbs Learning Objectives: Students will learn to correctly use 持つ, ある, and いる to express "have" in various contexts Material Type: Self-study language lesson with interlinear glossing
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Japanese uses different verbs for "have" depending on what is possessed -
持つ (motsu) is for physical holding/possession -
ある (aru) expresses existence/possession of inanimate things -
いる (iru) expresses existence/possession of animate beings -
Context determines which verb to use
11.1 私は (watashi-wa) I-[topic] 本を (hon-o) book-[object] 持って (mot-te) have います (i-masu) [polite-present]
11.2 彼女は (kanojo-wa) she-[topic] 猫を (neko-o) cat-[object] 飼って (kat-te) keeping います (i-masu) [polite-present]
11.3 私の (watashi-no) my 家には (ie-ni-wa) house-in-[topic] 庭が (niwa-ga) garden-[subject] あります (ari-masu) exists
11.4 兄は (ani-wa) older-brother-[topic] 車を (kuruma-o) car-[object] 持って (mot-te) have いません (i-masen) not-[polite]
11.5 この (kono) this 部屋には (heya-ni-wa) room-in-[topic] エアコンが (eakon-ga) air-conditioner-[subject] ある (aru) exists
11.6 友達が (tomodachi-ga) friend-[subject] たくさん (takusan) many います (i-masu) exist-[polite]
11.7 お金を (okane-o) money-[object] 持って (mot-te) have いますか (i-masu-ka) [polite-question]
11.8 子供が (kodomo-ga) child-[subject] 二人 (futari) two-people います (i-masu) exist-[polite]
11.9 時間が (jikan-ga) time-[subject] ありません (ari-masen) not-exist-[polite]
11.10 彼は (kare-wa) he-[topic] ペンを (pen-o) pen-[object] 持って (mot-te) have いる (iru) is-[plain]
11.11 姉が (ane-ga) older-sister-[subject] います (i-masu) exists-[polite]
11.12 問題が (mondai-ga) problem-[subject] あります (ari-masu) exists-[polite]
11.13 私は (watashi-wa) I-[topic] 質問が (shitsumon-ga) question-[subject] あります (ari-masu) have-[polite]
11.14 鍵を (kagi-o) key-[object] 持って (mot-te) have いきます (iki-masu) go-[polite]
11.15 経験が (keiken-ga) experience-[subject] ない (nai) not-exist です (desu) is-[polite]
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11.1 私は本を持っています。I have a book.
11.2 彼女は猫を飼っています。She has a cat.
11.3 私の家には庭があります。My house has a garden.
11.4 兄は車を持っていません。My older brother doesn't have a car.
11.5 この部屋にはエアコンがある。This room has air conditioning.
11.6 友達がたくさんいます。I have many friends.
11.7 お金を持っていますか。Do you have money?
11.8 子供が二人います。I have two children.
11.9 時間がありません。I don't have time.
11.10 彼はペンを持っている。He has a pen.
11.11 姉がいます。I have an older sister.
11.12 問題があります。There is a problem.
11.13 私は質問があります。I have a question.
11.14 鍵を持っていきます。I'll take the keys with me.
11.15 経験がないです。I don't have experience.
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11.1 私は本を持っています。
11.2 彼女は猫を飼っています。
11.3 私の家には庭があります。
11.4 兄は車を持っていません。
11.5 この部屋にはエアコンがある。
11.6 友達がたくさんいます。
11.7 お金を持っていますか。
11.8 子供が二人います。
11.9 時間がありません。
11.10 彼はペンを持っている。
11.11 姉がいます。
11.12 問題があります。
11.13 私は質問があります。
11.14 鍵を持っていきます。
11.15 経験がないです。
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Japanese expresses the concept of "having" or possession through three distinct verbs, each with specific usage rules:
1. 持つ (motsu) - Physical Possession -
Used for objects you can physically hold or carry -
Conjugates as a godan verb (u-verb) -
Present tense: 持っている (motte iru) -
Negative: 持っていない (motte inai) -
Past: 持っていた (motte ita) -
Past negative: 持っていなかった (motte inakatta)
2. ある (aru) - Existence/Possession of Inanimate Objects -
Used for non-living things, abstract concepts -
Irregular verb -
Present: ある (aru) / あります (arimasu) polite -
Negative: ない (nai) / ありません (arimasen) polite -
Past: あった (atta) / ありました (arimashita) polite -
Past negative: なかった (nakatta) / ありませんでした (arimasen deshita) polite
3. いる (iru) - Existence/Possession of Animate Beings -
Used for people, animals, living things -
Ichidan verb (ru-verb) -
Present: いる (iru) / います (imasu) polite -
Negative: いない (inai) / いません (imasen) polite -
Past: いた (ita) / いました (imashita) polite -
Past negative: いなかった (inakatta) / いませんでした (imasen deshita) polite
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Using 持つ for everything - English speakers often overuse 持つ because it seems closest to "have," but it's only for physical objects you can hold. -
Confusing ある and いる - Remember: ある for things, いる for living beings. -
Wrong particle usage - With ある/いる, use が (ga) for what exists, not を (o). -
Forgetting the continuous form - 持つ requires the -te iru form for possession: 持っている, not just 持つ. -
Translating "have" too literally - Sometimes Japanese doesn't use a "have" verb at all, like "I have a headache" = 頭が痛い (atama ga itai) literally "head hurts."
To choose the correct "have" verb:
Step 1: Identify what is being possessed -
Can you physically hold it? → Consider 持つ -
Is it alive (person/animal)? → Use いる -
Is it inanimate? → Use ある
Step 2: Check the sentence structure -
For 持つ: Subject は Object を 持っている -
For ある: Place に Thing が ある -
For いる: Place に Person/Animal が いる
Step 3: Consider special cases -
Family members use いる -
Body parts, illness use different structures -
Some abstract concepts may use 持つ metaphorically
The three verbs represent different conceptual frameworks: -
持つ emphasizes active possession/holding -
ある emphasizes existence in a location -
いる emphasizes animate existence
Particle usage differs: -
持つ takes を (object marker) -
ある/いる take が (subject marker) for what exists -
Location uses に (in/at)
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The Japanese language's multiple ways of expressing "have" reflects deeper cultural concepts about possession and existence. Unlike English, which uses one verb "have" for nearly all possession, Japanese makes distinctions that reveal cultural values.
Physical vs. Existential Possession The distinction between 持つ (motsu) and ある/いる (aru/iru) reflects a Japanese philosophical perspective that differentiates between actively holding something versus something existing in your sphere. This mirrors the Buddhist-influenced worldview where possession is often seen as temporary and contextual.
Animate vs. Inanimate The ある/いる distinction shows the Japanese language's attention to the animate/inanimate divide, reflecting a cultural awareness of the different nature of living beings versus objects. This extends even to family members, who are described with いる despite being "possessed" in the English sense.
Indirect Expression Japanese often avoids direct statements of possession, preferring existential constructions. Instead of "I have a car," it's more natural to say "As for me, a car exists" (私には車がある). This indirect style reflects Japanese communication patterns that favor subtlety.
Contextual Possession The use of particles like に (ni) to indicate the possessor shows how Japanese views possession as relational and contextual rather than absolute. This aligns with Japanese social values of interdependence and context-sensitivity.
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From "Kitchen" (キッチン) by Banana Yoshimoto (吉本ばなな), 1988:
私には (watashi-ni-wa) as-for-me 特別な (tokubetsu-na) special 何かが (nanika-ga) something-[subject] なくて (nakute) not-existing-and、でも (demo) but 普通の (futsuu-no) ordinary 幸せは (shiawase-wa) happiness-[topic] ちゃんと (chanto) properly ある (aru) exists。毎日 (mainichi) every-day 食べる (taberu) eat ご飯が (gohan-ga) meal-[subject] あって (atte) existing-and、眠る (nemuru) sleep 場所が (basho-ga) place-[subject] あって (atte) existing-and、話す (hanasu) speak 人が (hito-ga) person-[subject] いる (iru) exists。
私には特別な何かがなくて、でも普通の幸せはちゃんとある。毎日食べるご飯があって、眠る場所があって、話す人がいる。
"I don't have anything special, but I do have ordinary happiness. I have meals to eat every day, a place to sleep, and people to talk to."
私には特別な何かがなくて、でも普通の幸せはちゃんとある。毎日食べるご飯があって、眠る場所があって、話す人がいる。
This passage beautifully demonstrates the existential nature of Japanese possession: -
なくて (nakute) - negative te-form of ない, showing lack of possession -
ある (aru) used for abstract concepts (happiness) and things (meals, place) -
いる (iru) used for people -
The pattern Verb + Noun が ある/いる shows possession of opportunities or things to do -
The には (ni wa) construction emphasizes "as for me" in terms of what exists in my life
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11.16 朝 (asa) morning 起きて (okite) wake-up-and、シャワーを (shawaa-o) shower-[object] 浴びる (abiru) take 時間が (jikan-ga) time-[subject] あります (ari-masu) have-[polite]
11.17 朝食には (choushoku-ni-wa) for-breakfast-[topic] パンと (pan-to) bread-and コーヒーが (koohii-ga) coffee-[subject] あります (ari-masu) exists-[polite]
11.18 仕事に (shigoto-ni) to-work 行く (iku) go 前に (mae-ni) before、傘を (kasa-o) umbrella-[object] 持って (mot-te) have いきます (iki-masu) go-[polite]
11.19 会社には (kaisha-ni-wa) at-company-[topic] 同僚が (douryou-ga) colleague-[subject] たくさん (takusan) many います (i-masu) exist-[polite]
11.20 昼休みは (hiruyasumi-wa) lunch-break-[topic] 一時間 (ichi-jikan) one-hour あります (ari-masu) have-[polite]
11.21 午後は (gogo-wa) afternoon-[topic] 会議が (kaigi-ga) meeting-[subject] 三つ (mittsu) three あります (ari-masu) have-[polite]
11.22 私の (watashi-no) my デスクには (desuku-ni-wa) desk-at-[topic] コンピューターが (konpyuutaa-ga) computer-[subject] あります (ari-masu) exists-[polite]
11.23 今日は (kyou-wa) today-[topic] 重要な (juuyou-na) important 書類を (shorui-o) documents-[object] 持って (mot-te) have います (i-masu) [polite-present]
11.24 部長が (buchou-ga) department-manager-[subject] 私の (watashi-no) my 隣に (tonari-ni) next-to います (i-masu) exists-[polite]
11.25 財布に (saifu-ni) in-wallet お金が (okane-ga) money-[subject] 少し (sukoshi) little あります (ari-masu) exists-[polite]
11.26 今晩は (konban-wa) tonight-[topic] 予定が (yotei-ga) plans-[subject] ありません (ari-masen) not-have-[polite]
11.27 家に (ie-ni) at-home 帰ったら (kaettara) when-return、ペットが (petto-ga) pet-[subject] います (i-masu) exists-[polite]
11.28 冷蔵庫に (reizouko-ni) in-refrigerator 食べ物が (tabemono-ga) food-[subject] ある (aru) exists かどうか (ka-dou-ka) whether 分かりません (wakari-masen) don't-know-[polite]
11.29 明日は (ashita-wa) tomorrow-[topic] 休みが (yasumi-ga) day-off-[subject] あります (ari-masu) have-[polite]
11.30 週末には (shuumatsu-ni-wa) on-weekend-[topic] 時間が (jikan-ga) time-[subject] たっぷり (tappuri) plenty あります (ari-masu) have-[polite]
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11.16 朝起きて、シャワーを浴びる時間があります。I have time to wake up and take a shower in the morning.
11.17 朝食にはパンとコーヒーがあります。For breakfast, there is bread and coffee.
11.18 仕事に行く前に、傘を持っていきます。Before going to work, I take an umbrella with me.
11.19 会社には同僚がたくさんいます。At the company, there are many colleagues.
11.20 昼休みは一時間あります。I have a one-hour lunch break.
11.21 午後は会議が三つあります。In the afternoon, I have three meetings.
11.22 私のデスクにはコンピューターがあります。There is a computer at my desk.
11.23 今日は重要な書類を持っています。Today I have important documents.
11.24 部長が私の隣にいます。The department manager is next to me.
11.25 財布にお金が少しあります。I have a little money in my wallet.
11.26 今晩は予定がありません。I don't have plans tonight.
11.27 家に帰ったら、ペットがいます。When I return home, my pet is there.
11.28 冷蔵庫に食べ物があるかどうか分かりません。I don't know whether there is food in the refrigerator.
11.29 明日は休みがあります。Tomorrow I have a day off.
11.30 週末には時間がたっぷりあります。On the weekend, I have plenty of time.
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11.16 朝起きて、シャワーを浴びる時間があります。
11.17 朝食にはパンとコーヒーがあります。
11.18 仕事に行く前に、傘を持っていきます。
11.19 会社には同僚がたくさんいます。
11.20 昼休みは一時間あります。
11.21 午後は会議が三つあります。
11.22 私のデスクにはコンピューターがあります。
11.23 今日は重要な書類を持っています。
11.24 部長が私の隣にいます。
11.25 財布にお金が少しあります。
11.26 今晩は予定がありません。
11.27 家に帰ったら、ペットがいます。
11.28 冷蔵庫に食べ物があるかどうか分かりません。
11.29 明日は休みがあります。
11.30 週末には時間がたっぷりあります。
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In daily life narratives, Japanese speakers use possession verbs to describe their routines, belongings, and relationships. Here are specific patterns:
Time-related Possession -
時間がある (jikan ga aru) - "to have time" -
予定がある (yotei ga aru) - "to have plans" -
休みがある (yasumi ga aru) - "to have time off"
These always use ある, never いる, because time is conceptualized as inanimate.
Location-based Existence Daily life descriptions often use the pattern: Place + に(は) + Thing/Person + が + ある/いる
Examples: -
会社には同僚がいます (At the company, colleagues exist) -
デスクにはコンピューターがあります (At my desk, a computer exists)
Possession with Movement 持っていく (motte iku) - "to take with" (literally: to go having) 持ってくる (motte kuru) - "to bring" (literally: to come having)
These compound verbs show how 持つ combines with movement verbs.
Quantifiers with Possession -
たくさん (takusan) - many -
少し (sukoshi) - a little -
たっぷり (tappuri) - plenty
These quantifiers typically come before ある/いる.
Negative Possession in Daily Contexts -
ありません (arimasen) - formal negative -
ない (nai) - casual negative -
いません (imasen) - formal negative for animate
Conditional Possession -
あるかどうか (aru ka dou ka) - "whether there is or not" -
あったら (attara) - "if there is"
These patterns are common when discussing uncertain possession.
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