How to Say ‘Please be careful.’ in Japanese
気をつけてくださいね。
ki o tsuke te kudasai ne
[kee oh tsoo-keh teh koo-dah-sigh neh]
💬 Usage Tip: Adding [ね] makes it gentle and friendly—like “Please be careful, okay?”
🇯🇵 In Japan: This phrase is a very natural goodbye in Japan; you might hear it from shop staff, station staff, or someone who just gave you directions.
Phrase Breakdown
気をつけて
ki o tsuke te
be careful; take care (te-form)
From 気をつける (to be careful). Te-form used to make a request with ください.
夜は気をつけて。
Be careful at night.
Words in this phrase
気
ki
[kee]
spirit / attention / care
気 in this set phrase refers to your attention/care. Combined with つけてくださいね, it becomes a warm, polite “Please take care, okay?”
最寄りの駅はあちらです。気をつけてくださいね。
The nearest station is over there. Please take care, okay?
を
o
[oh]
object marker “o”
Marks 気 as the object in the fixed expression. You’ll almost always see 気を together in this phrase.
足元に気をつけてくださいね。
Please watch your step, okay?
つけ
tsuke
[tsoo-keh]
attach / apply (pay attention)
From つける. In travel contexts, it often implies safety: crowds, steps, trains, nighttime walking to the station.
人が多いから気をつけてくださいね。
It’s crowded, so please be careful, okay?
て
te
[teh]
-te form (links to ください)
Used with ください to make a polite request. 気をつけてください = “Please be careful.”
電車に乗るとき、気をつけてくださいね。
When you get on the train, please be careful, okay?
ください
kudasai
[koo-dah-sigh]
please (polite request)
Adds politeness. Common from station staff or a stranger giving directions.
夜道なので気をつけてくださいね。
It’s a dark road at night, so please be careful, okay?
ね
ne
[neh]
okay? / right? (softener)
ね at the end makes the request sound warmer and friendlier, like “okay?” Often used when you’ve just helped someone find the station.
出口は右です。気をつけてくださいね。
The exit is to the right. Please be careful, okay?
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