How to say "retain" in Japanese

• 保つたもつJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'retain' in the everyday sense of keeping something as it is — a position, a record, or a condition. For simply keeping or preserving something, this is the word to reach for.
  体面たいめんを保たもつために行いった。↗

  For appearances sake, I went.
• 存置そんち
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbRetains in the sense of keeping something in existence or continuing to maintain it. Being less common, it is seldom the word you reach for in ordinary contexts; for everyday keeping, 保つ is the natural choice.
• 留め置くとめおく
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'retain' only in the physical sense of holding someone or something in place — detaining or keeping confined. For the abstract sense of retaining something, this is seldom the word you want.
  何なんびとも奴隷どれいの状態じょうたいに留め置とめおかれてはならない。↗

  No one shall be held in slavery.
• 身につくみにつく
  expression, godan verbCovers 'retain' when knowledge or a skill becomes part of you and stays there — what is learned sticks with the learner. For other senses of 'retain,' this is not the word you want.

Choose 「保つ」 for the everyday sense of keeping or preserving something; use 「身につく」 only when knowledge or skills stay with a person; 存置 and 「留め置く」 are less common, covering keeping something in existence and detaining respectively.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 保つたもつto keep
• 存置そんちmaintain
• 留め置くとめおくto detain
• 留めるとどめるto record (e.g. a fact)
• 存するそんするto retain
• 身につくみにつくto retain
• 取り置くとりおくto hold