小心
xiǎoxīn/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/
The English phrase 'be careful' is translated into Chinese as 小心 (xiǎoxīn).
小心 is a warning used to tell someone to avoid danger or a mistake. It can be used as a sudden shout to mean 'watch out!' or 'look out!' when someone needs to avoid immediate physical danger, such as a moving car or a falling object.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 小心 is composed of 小 (small) and 心 (heart), literally meaning to use a 'small heart' or to be cautious/attentive.
Which one should you use?
While 小心 is a standard way to say 'be careful', 当心 is a more formal way to say 'to take care' or 'to be cautious'. For a more colloquial tone, you can use 小心点 to mean 'be a little careful' or 当心一些 to indicate a certain amount of caution.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the phrase for 'be careful' is 小心啲.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 点 after 小心 to create 小心点 makes the warning sound more natural and colloquial, often used when telling someone to be more careful in a specific moment.
How do you pronounce it?
xiǎoxīn (/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵/)
Did you know?
- In some contexts, 小心 can be used as a subtle threat, implying that the listener should 'watch their step' or be wary of the speaker's power.
- While 心 means 'heart', in Chinese culture the heart is traditionally viewed as the center of both emotion and intellect, which is why 'small heart' refers to mental alertness.
- In Cantonese, adding 啲 to 小心 to make 小心啲 changes the phrase from a command into a gentle, caring suggestion often used by elders.
Examples in context
- 小心着凉啊！You'd better be careful not to catch cold.This sentence shows how to use 小心 when giving advice about health.Tatoeba #826542 by jessie0422, translation #319759 by CK
- 汤姆，小心！Tom, be careful!This sentence shows how to use 小心 as a sudden warning.Tatoeba #8800830 by crescat, translation #2047588 by CK
- 他會小心的。He'll be careful.This sentence shows how to use 小心 to describe someone's future behavior.Tatoeba #13199797 by LeviHighway, translation #12937501 by Conjuice
- 小心！地上很滑。Be careful! The floor is slippery.
- 注意，这是一个危险的地区。Be careful, this is a dangerous area.
- 当心！路上有很多车。Be careful! There are many cars on the road.
- 小心点！你可能会摔倒。Be careful! You might slip and fall.
- 当心一些，这里有很多人。Be careful, there are a lot of people here.
- 别出岔子，在考试中好好发挥。Don't mess up, do your best in the exam.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran is helping Jiayi carry a heavy box of glassware.
- 浩然 Haoran小心，这个箱子很重。Xiǎoxīn, zhège xiāngzi hěn zhòng.Be careful, this box is very heavy.
- 佳怡 Jiayi谢谢，我会小心的。Xièxie, wǒ huì xiǎoxīn de.Thanks, I will be careful.
- 浩然 Haoran小心，别碰到桌角了。Xiǎoxīn, bié pèng dào zhuōjiǎo le.Be careful, don't hit the corner of the table.
- 佳怡 Jiayi没问题，我已经放好了。Méi wèntí, wǒ yǐjīng fàng hǎo le.No problem, I've already put it down.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 小心, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
