diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 3afe15309..aa00879e0 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ export default class VueI18n {
     if (!message) { return null }
 
     const pathRet: PathValue = this._path.getPathValue(message, key)
-    if (Array.isArray(pathRet)) { return pathRet }
+    if (Array.isArray(pathRet) || isPlainObject(pathRet)) { return pathRet }
 
     let ret: mixed
     if (isNull(pathRet)) {
diff --git a/test/unit/basic.test.js b/test/unit/basic.test.js
index 13bd94a01..446de8be9 100644
--- a/test/unit/basic.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/basic.test.js
@@ -104,6 +104,12 @@ describe('basic', () => {
           })
         })
 
+        describe('parent object', () => {
+          it('should be translated', () => {
+            assert.equal(i18n.t('errors[1]'), messages.en.errors[1])
+          })
+        })
+
         describe('array', () => {
           it('should be translated', () => {
             assert.equal(i18n.t('errors[2][0]'), messages.en.errors[2][0])
@@ -403,7 +409,6 @@ describe('basic', () => {
     })
   })
 
-
   describe('$tc', () => {
     describe('en locale', () => {
       it('should translate plural english', () => {