持 is built from the 扌 (hand (left)) and 寺 components.
It reads ジ like 寺, as do 時, 詩, and 侍 — learn 寺 once and the family's reading comes with it.
A common word using 持 is 持つ (もつ), meaning “to hold, to carry; to possess”.
Don't confuse it with 待, 特, 侍, and 詩 — The right side 寺 is shared; the left radical carries the meaning: 彳 wait, 扌 hold, 牛 special, 亻 attend, 言 poem
