肩(かた)を持(も)つ

かたをもつ
expression
to side with; to take someone's part
idiomsociety
1. to side with; to take someone's part in a dispute
To support one person in a disagreement, usually with the implication that the support is partial or undeserved; literally 'to hold someone's shoulder', propping them up. The person is marked with の: 妹(いもうと)の肩(かた)を持(も)つ.
母(はは)はいつも妹(いもうと)の肩(かた)を持(も)つ。
My mother always takes my sister's side.
君(きみ)はどうして彼(かれ)の肩(かた)を持(も)つんだ？
Why are you siding with him?
部長(ぶちょう)が部下(ぶか)の肩(かた)を持(も)ったので、会議(かいぎ)の空気(くうき)が変(か)わった。
The atmosphere of the meeting changed when the department head sided with his subordinate.

Literally 'to hold someone's shoulder', propping them up. Usually implies partiality: the speaker feels the support is one-sided or unfair.

Common patterns

  • 〜の肩(かた)を持(も)つ: to side with ~
  • 肩(かた)を持(も)つわけではないが: I'm not taking his side, but ...

Similar words

Related Words

Related: 肩(かた) (shoulder)
Compare: 肩(かた)を並(なら)べる (to stand alongside; to rival)
Compare: 味方(みかた) (to side with, to be an ally)
Compare: 弁護(べんご) (to defend, to speak in someone's defense)
general
Added 2026.9.10 0:45 · Revised 2026.9.10 0:54
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