diff --git a/decls/i18n.js b/decls/i18n.js
index 83d3193c2..8b468c610 100644
--- a/decls/i18n.js
+++ b/decls/i18n.js
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ declare type I18nOptions = {
   pluralizationRules?: {
     [lang: string]: (choice: number, choicesLength: number) => number,
   },
+  preserveDirectiveContent?: boolean,
 };
 
 declare type IntlAvailability = {
@@ -106,7 +107,8 @@ declare interface I18n {
   n (value: number, ...args: any): NumberFormatResult,
   pluralizationRules: {
     [lang: string]: (choice: number, choicesLength: number) => number
-  }
+  },
+  preserveDirectiveContent: boolean
 };
 
 declare interface Formatter {
diff --git a/examples/directive/index.html b/examples/directive/index.html
index 723645f48..51019d274 100644
--- a/examples/directive/index.html
+++ b/examples/directive/index.html
@@ -15,6 +15,17 @@
       <p v-t="{ path: 'hello', locale: 'ja', args: { name: 'kazupon' } }"></p>
       <p v-t="{ path: path, args: { name: nickName } }"></p>
     </div>
+    <div id="in-transitions">
+      <p>
+        <transition name="fade">
+          <span v-if="toggle" v-t="'clean'" class="red-bg"></span>
+        </transition>
+        <transition name="fade">
+          <span v-if="toggle" v-t.preserve="'preserve'" class="red-bg"></span>
+        </transition>
+      </p>
+      <button @click="toggle = !toggle">Toggle</button>
+    </div>
     <script>
       // string syntax example
       new Vue({
@@ -42,6 +53,35 @@
         },
         data: { path: 'hello' }
       }).$mount('#object-syntax')
+
+      // use in transitions example
+      new Vue({
+        i18n: new VueI18n({
+          locale: 'en',
+          messages: {
+            en: {
+              clean: 'without preserve',
+              preserve: 'with preserve'
+            },
+          }
+        }),
+        data: { toggle: true }
+      }).$mount('#in-transitions')
     </script>
+    <style>
+      .fade-enter-active,
+      .fade-leave-active {
+        transition: opacity 1s;
+      }
+      .fade-enter,
+      .fade-leave-to {
+        opacity: 0;
+      }
+
+      .red-bg {
+        background-color: red;
+        padding: 5px;
+      }
+    </style>
   </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/src/directive.js b/src/directive.js
index b7b2d9f87..2b6da6d7e 100644
--- a/src/directive.js
+++ b/src/directive.js
@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ export function unbind (el: any, binding: Object, vnode: any, oldVNode: any): vo
     return
   }
 
-  el.textContent = ''
+  const i18n: any = vnode.context.$i18n || {}
+  if (!binding.modifiers.preserve && !i18n.preserveDirectiveContent) {
+    el.textContent = ''
+  }
   el._vt = undefined
   delete el['_vt']
   el._locale = undefined
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index ce7492587..a7629630c 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ export default class VueI18n {
   pluralizationRules: {
     [lang: string]: (choice: number, choicesLength: number) => number
   }
+  preserveDirectiveContent: boolean
 
   constructor (options: I18nOptions = {}) {
     // Auto install if it is not done yet and `window` has `Vue`.
@@ -94,6 +95,9 @@ export default class VueI18n {
     this._dataListeners = []
 
     this.pluralizationRules = options.pluralizationRules || {}
+    this.preserveDirectiveContent = options.preserveDirectiveContent === undefined
+      ? false
+      : !!options.preserveDirectiveContent
 
     this._exist = (message: Object, key: Path): boolean => {
       if (!message || !key) { return false }
diff --git a/src/mixin.js b/src/mixin.js
index cbf2caad7..55fae110a 100644
--- a/src/mixin.js
+++ b/src/mixin.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export default {
           options.i18n.fallbackLocale = this.$root.$i18n.fallbackLocale
           options.i18n.silentTranslationWarn = this.$root.$i18n.silentTranslationWarn
           options.i18n.pluralizationRules = this.$root.$i18n.pluralizationRules
+          options.i18n.preserveDirectiveContent = this.$root.$i18n.preserveDirectiveContent
         }
 
         // init locale messages via custom blocks
diff --git a/test/unit/directive.test.js b/test/unit/directive.test.js
index 8042f7f96..418f0b7e9 100644
--- a/test/unit/directive.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/directive.test.js
@@ -199,5 +199,80 @@ describe('custom directive', () => {
         }).then(done)
       })
     })
+
+    describe('preserve content', () => {
+      it('should clear element content on destroy by default', done => {
+        const vm = createVM({
+          i18n,
+          data: () => ({ visible: true }),
+          render (h) {
+            // <p ref="text" v-t="'message.hello'"></p>
+            const directives = this.visible ? [{
+              name: 't', rawName: 'v-t', value: ('message.hello'), expression: "'message.hello'"
+            }] : []
+            return h('p', { ref: 'text', directives })
+          }
+        })
+
+        nextTick(() => {
+          assert.strictEqual(vm.$refs.text.textContent, messages.en.message.hello)
+
+          vm.visible = false
+          vm.$forceUpdate()
+        }).then(() => {
+          assert.strictEqual(vm.$refs.text.textContent, '')
+        }).then(done)
+      })
+
+      it('should not clear element content with "preserve" modifier', done => {
+        const vm = createVM({
+          i18n,
+          data: () => ({ visible: true }),
+          render (h) {
+            // <p ref="text" v-t.preserve="'message.hello'"></p>
+            const directives = this.visible ? [{
+              name: 't', rawName: 'v-t', value: ('message.hello'), expression: "'message.hello'", modifiers: { preserve: true }
+            }] : []
+            return h('p', { ref: 'text', directives })
+          }
+        })
+
+        nextTick(() => {
+          assert.strictEqual(vm.$refs.text.textContent, messages.en.message.hello)
+
+          vm.visible = false
+          vm.$forceUpdate()
+        }).then(() => {
+          assert.strictEqual(vm.$refs.text.textContent, messages.en.message.hello)
+        }).then(done)
+      })
+
+      it('should not clear element content when "preserveDirectiveContent" i18nOption is set to true', done => {
+        const vm = createVM({
+          i18n: new VueI18n({
+            locale: 'en',
+            messages,
+            preserveDirectiveContent: true
+          }),
+          data: () => ({ visible: true }),
+          render (h) {
+            // <p ref="text" v-t="'message.hello'"></p>
+            const directives = this.visible ? [{
+              name: 't', rawName: 'v-t', value: ('message.hello'), expression: "'message.hello'"
+            }] : []
+            return h('p', { ref: 'text', directives })
+          }
+        })
+
+        nextTick(() => {
+          assert.strictEqual(vm.$refs.text.textContent, messages.en.message.hello)
+
+          vm.visible = false
+          vm.$forceUpdate()
+        }).then(() => {
+          assert.strictEqual(vm.$refs.text.textContent, messages.en.message.hello)
+        }).then(done)
+      })
+    })
   })
 })
diff --git a/types/index.d.ts b/types/index.d.ts
index 496e1b178..f147435fa 100644
--- a/types/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/index.d.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ declare namespace VueI18n {
     sync?: boolean;
     silentTranslationWarn?: boolean;
     pluralizationRules?: PluralizationRulesMap;
+    preserveDirectiveContent?: boolean;
   }
 }
 
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ export declare interface IVueI18n {
   formatter: VueI18n.Formatter;
   silentTranslationWarn: boolean;
   pluralizationRules: VueI18n.PluralizationRulesMap;
+  preserveDirectiveContent: boolean;
 }
 
 declare class VueI18n {
diff --git a/types/test/index.ts b/types/test/index.ts
index 144e4e79c..911000274 100644
--- a/types/test/index.ts
+++ b/types/test/index.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ const i18n = new VueI18n({
   fallbackRoot: false,
   sync: true,
   silentTranslationWarn: true,
+  preserveDirectiveContent: true,
 });
 i18n.messages[locale][key];         // $ExpectType LocaleMessage
 i18n.dateTimeFormats[locale][key];  // $ExpectType DateTimeFormatOptions
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ i18n.fallbackLocale;                // $ExpectType string
 i18n.missing;                       // $ExpectType MissingHandler
 i18n.formatter;                     // $ExpectType Formatter
 i18n.silentTranslationWarn;         // $ExpectType boolean
+i18n.preserveDirectiveContent;      // $ExpectType boolean
 i18n.setLocaleMessage;              // $ExpectType (locale: string, message: LocaleMessageObject) => void
 i18n.getLocaleMessage;              // $ExpectType (locale: string) => LocaleMessageObject
 i18n.mergeLocaleMessage;            // $ExpectType (locale: string, message: LocaleMessageObject) => void
diff --git a/vuepress/api/README.md b/vuepress/api/README.md
index 6090b1d51..f483150d9 100644
--- a/vuepress/api/README.md
+++ b/vuepress/api/README.md
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ Whether synchronize the root level locale to the component localization locale.
 
 If `false`, regardless of the root level locale, localize for each component locale.
 
-### silentTranslationWarn
+#### silentTranslationWarn
 
 > 6.1+
 
@@ -259,6 +259,16 @@ Whether suppress warnings outputted when localization fails.
 
 If `true`, supress localization fail warnings.
 
+#### preserveDirectiveContent
+
+> 8.7+
+
+  * **Type:** `Boolean`
+
+  * **Default:** `false`
+
+Whether `v-t` directive's element should preserve `textContent` after directive is unbinded.
+
 ### Properties
 
 #### locale
@@ -331,6 +341,16 @@ The formatter that implemented with `Formatter` interface.
 
 Whether suppress warnings outputted when localization fails.
 
+#### preserveDirectiveContent
+
+> 8.7+
+
+  * **Type:** `boolean`
+
+  * **Read/Write**
+
+Whether `v-t` directive's element should preserve `textContent` after directive is unbinded.
+
 ### Methods
 
 #### getChoiceIndex
@@ -338,7 +358,7 @@ Whether suppress warnings outputted when localization fails.
   * **Arguments:**
     * `{number} choice`
     * `{number} choicesLength`
-  
+
   * **Return:** `finalChoice {number}`
 
 Get pluralization index for current pluralizing number and a given amount of choices. Can be overriden through prototype mutation:
@@ -519,6 +539,10 @@ This is the same as `$n` method of Vue instance method. More detail see [$n](#n)
 
   * **Expects:** `string | Object`
 
+  * **Modifiers:**
+
+    * `.preserve`: (8.7.0+) preserves element `textContent` when directive is unbinded.
+
   * **Details:**
 
 Update the element `textContent` that localized with locale messages. You can use string syntax or object syntax. string syntax can be specified as a keypath of locale messages. If you can be used object syntax, you need to specify as the object key the following params:
@@ -526,6 +550,10 @@ Update the element `textContent` that localized with locale messages. You can us
     * path: required, key of locale messages
     * locale: optional, locale
     * args: optional, for list or named formatting
+
+::::tip NOTE
+The element `textContent` will be cleared by default when `v-t` directive is unbinded. This might be undesirable situation when used inside [transitions](https://vuejs.org/v2/guide/transitions.html). To preserve `textContent` data after directive unbind use `.preserve` modifier or global [`preserveDirectiveContent` option](#preservedirectivecontent).
+::::
   * **Examples:**
 ```html
 <!-- string syntax: literal -->
@@ -539,6 +567,9 @@ Update the element `textContent` that localized with locale messages. You can us
 
 <!-- object syntax: binding via data or computed props -->
 <p v-t="{ path: greeting, args: { name: fullName } }"></p>
+
+<!-- with preserve modifier -->
+<p v-t.preserve="'foo.bar'"></p>
 ```
 
   * **See also:** [Custom directive localization](../guide/directive.md)
diff --git a/vuepress/guide/directive.md b/vuepress/guide/directive.md
index 7b52ee57a..56bd68d73 100644
--- a/vuepress/guide/directive.md
+++ b/vuepress/guide/directive.md
@@ -88,6 +88,71 @@ Outputs:
 </div>
 ```
 
+## Use with transitions
+
+:::tip Support Version
+:new: 8.7+
+:::
+
+When `v-t` directive is applied to an element inside [`<transition>` component](https://vuejs.org/v2/api/#transition), you may notice that translated message will disappear during the transition. This behavior is related to the nature of the `<transition>` component implementation – all directives in disappearing element inside `<transition>` component will be destroyed **before transition starts**. This behavior may result in content flickering on short animations, but most noticable on long transitions.
+
+To make sure directive content will stay un-touched during transition just add [`.preserve` modifier](../api/#v-t) to `v-t` directive defintion.
+
+Javascript:
+
+```js
+new Vue({
+  i18n: new VueI18n({
+    locale: 'en',
+    messages: {
+      en: { preserve: 'with preserve' },
+    }
+  }),
+  data: { toggle: true }
+}).$mount('#in-transitions')
+```
+
+Templates:
+
+```html
+<div id="in-transitions">
+  <transition name="fade">
+    <span v-if="toggle" v-t.preserve="'preserve'"></span>
+  </transition>
+  <button @click="toggle = !toggle">Toggle</button>
+</div>
+```
+
+It is also possible to set global setting on `VueI18n` instance itself, which will have effect on all `v-t` directives without modifier.
+
+Javascript:
+
+```js
+new Vue({
+  i18n: new VueI18n({
+    locale: 'en',
+    messages: {
+      en: { preserve: 'with preserve' },
+    },
+    preserveDirectiveContent: true
+  }),
+  data: { toggle: true }
+}).$mount('#in-transitions')
+```
+
+Templates:
+
+```html
+<div id="in-transitions">
+  <transition name="fade">
+    <span v-if="toggle" v-t="'preserve'"></span>
+  </transition>
+  <button @click="toggle = !toggle">Toggle</button>
+</div>
+```
+
+About the above examples, see the [example](https://github.com/kazupon/vue-i18n/tree/dev/examples/directive)
+
 ## `$t` vs `v-t`
 
 ### `$t`