How to Say ‘Please be careful.’ in Japanese
気をつけてください
ki o tsuke te kudasai
[kee oh tsoo-keh teh koo-dah-sigh]
💬 Usage Tip: Polite version: [気をつけて] + [ください]. Good for speaking to strangers.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Often said when parting ways, similar to “Take care,” especially if you’re heading to a station through traffic.
Phrase Breakdown
気
ki
[kee]
spirit / attention / care
気 is used with つける to mean “pay attention.” With ください, it becomes a polite request suitable for strangers (e.g., tourists, customers).
階段が急なので、気をつけてください。
The stairs are steep, so please be careful.
を
o
[oh]
object marker “o”
Marks 気 as the object in the set expression 気をつけてください (“Please be careful”).
ホームでは気をつけてください。
Please be careful on the platform.
つけ
tsuke
[tsoo-keh]
attach / apply (pay attention)
つけ comes from つける. In this phrase it means “apply your attention,” i.e., “be careful.”
人が多いので、気をつけてください。
There are many people, so please be careful.
て
te
[teh]
-te form (connects to ください)
て + ください forms a polite request: 〜てください = “please do …”. So 気をつけてください = “Please be careful.”
終電が近いので、気をつけてください。
The last train is soon, so please be careful (and hurry).
ください
kudasai
[koo-dah-sigh]
please (polite request)
ください makes a polite request. Common in announcements or when speaking politely to someone you don’t know.
駅まで気をつけてください。
Please be careful on your way to the station.
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