How to Say ‘To be careful’ in Japanese
気をつける
ki o tsukeru
[kee oh tsoo-keh-roo]
💬 Usage Tip: [気をつける] literally means “attach your attention.” Often used when giving advice: [車に気をつけて] “Watch out for cars.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: You might hear this from someone after they give directions, especially if you’ll cross busy roads or walk far to the metro. It’s a friendly, caring send-off.
Phrase Breakdown
気
ki
[kee]
attention; care (as in “pay attention”)
In this phrase, 気 is “attention/care.” Together with をつける it forms “to be careful; to pay attention.”
気をつけるポイントは出口を間違えないことです。
A point to be careful about is not taking the wrong exit.
を
o
[oh]
object marker “o”
Marks 気 as the object of つける in the set expression 気をつける.
地下鉄では足元を気をつける。
On the subway, I watch my step (am careful).
つける
tsukeru
[tsoo-keh-roo]
to attach; to apply; (in 気をつける) to be careful
Literally “to attach,” but in the idiom 気をつける it means “to be careful / pay attention.”
階段では気をつける。
Be careful on the stairs.
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