Japanese word

所有

Pronunciation

Romajishoyū

Meaning

  • nounownership

Example

私はこの本を所有しています。watashi wa ko no hon o sho yū shi te i ma su

I own this book.

Illustration for 所有 (ownership)

More examples

この土地の所有をめぐって、家族で話し合いました。ko no to chi no sho yū o me gu tte ka zoku de hana shi a i ma shi ta

The family discussed ownership of this land.

Core concept

Describes having something as one's own, with control or rights over it.

Common phrases

  • 土地の所有to chi no sho yū

    ownership of land

  • 財産の所有zai san no sho yū

    ownership of property

  • 所有の移転sho yū no i ten

    transfer of ownership

Similar words

保有hoyū: Keeping assets, rights, or other valuable things as one's own and under one's control.
所持shoji: Having a particular item in one's possession, especially by carrying or storing it.

Definition in Japanese

物や権利などを自分のものとして持つこと。mono ya ken ri na do o ji bun no mo no to shi te mo tsu ko to

Word origin

所有 (shoyū) combines 所 (sho, "place") and 有 (yū, "have"), forming the idea of having something in one's possession.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, ownership can refer not only to legal possession but also to taking responsibility for a task, as in "take ownership."

Related words

  • 所有するshoyūsuruownverb
  • 所有者shoyūshaownernoun
  • 所有物shoyūbutsupossessionnoun

Word lists with this word