How do you say "I want to keep it with me." in Japanese?

"I want to keep it with me." in Japanese is "手元に残したいです。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘I want to keep it with me.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "手元に残したいです。" mean in English?

"手元に残したいです。" means "I want to keep it with me." in English. Usage tip: [手元に] literally means "at hand" or "with you," and it's a handy pattern for things you want to keep nearby: [パスポートは手元に置いてください] "Please keep your passport with you."

手元に残したいです。

temoto ni nokoshi tai desu

[teh-moh-toh nee noh-koh-shee tai dess]

💬 Usage Tip: [手元に] literally means "at hand" or "with you," and it's a handy pattern for things you want to keep nearby: [パスポートは手元に置いてください] "Please keep your passport with you."

Phrase Breakdown

手元に残したい

temoto ni nokoshi tai

want to keep with me

Means you want to keep something nearby instead of sending it away.

Example

この書類は手元に残したいです。

I want to keep these documents with me.

Words in this phrase

手元

temoto

[teh-moh-toh]

at hand; with me

Refers to keeping something close by or in your possession, instead of sending it away.

Example

パスポートは手元に残してください。

Please keep your passport with you.

に

[nee]

in; at; to

A particle showing location or direction. Here it marks where something is kept.

Example

荷物は手元に置きます。

I keep the luggage with me.

残し

nokoshi

[noh-koh-shee]

leave; keep behind

The stem of 残す, used here to mean leaving or keeping something in a certain place.

Example

小さいかばんだけ残してください。

Please leave only the small bag.

たい

tai

[tai]

want to

Adds the meaning of desire to a verb stem. Here it means 'want to keep.'

Example

この荷物は持ちたいですが、これは残したいです。

I want to carry this luggage, but I want to leave this one.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite ending

A polite sentence ending often used in formal conversation such as at hotels or counters.

Example

手元に残したいです。

I would like to keep it with me.

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