How to Say ‘Want to keep only it with me / at hand’ in Japanese
だけ手元に残したいです
dake temoto ni nokoshi tai desu
[dah-keh teh-moh-toh nee noh-koh-shee tai dess]
💬 Usage Tip: [だけ] comes right after what it means "only" for. So [着替えだけ手元に残したいです] means "I want to keep only a change of clothes with me," not "I only want to keep it with me."
Phrase Breakdown
だけ
dake
[dah-keh]
only; just
Emphasizes that no more than that amount or item is included.
これだけ手元に残したいです。
I want to keep only this with me.
手元に
temoto ni
at hand; with me
Means keeping something close by or in your possession.
手元に置きたいです。
I want to keep it with me.
Words in this phrase
手元
temoto
[teh-moh-toh]
at hand; with me
Means near oneself or in one's personal possession.
大事なものは手元に置いてください。
Please keep important things with you.
に
ni
[nee]
in; at; to
Marks the place where something remains.
必要なものは手元にあります。
The necessary items are with me.
残したいです
nokoshi tai desu
I want to keep; I want to leave remaining
Polite expression of wanting something to remain.
少しだけ残したいです。
I want to keep just a little.
Words in this phrase
残し
nokoshi
[noh-koh-shee]
leave; keep behind
Verb stem of 残す, meaning to leave something as it is or keep it somewhere.
このバッグはここに残します。
I will leave this bag here.
たい
tai
[tai]
want to
Shows the speaker's wish or preference.
着替えだけ持ちたいです。
I want to take only a change of clothes.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite ending
Adds politeness to the sentence, common in customer service settings.
だけ手元に残したいです。
I would like to keep only that with me.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager