気をつけて運転してね
ki o tsukete unten shite ne
The English phrase "drive safe" is expressed in Japanese as 気をつけて運転してね (ki o tsukete unten shite ne).
This phrase is used to tell someone to be careful while driving a vehicle. In many casual situations, if the context of driving is already understood, Japanese speakers will omit the driving part and simply say 気をつけて (Take care / Be careful).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 気をつけて (be careful/pay attention) and unten shite (drive) with the particle ne (a sentence-ending particle used for seeking agreement or softening a request).
Which one should you use?
You can use 安全運転してね for an informal "drive safely, okay?" or 安全運転をお願いします for a more formal "please drive safely."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 気をつけて運転してね is informal and is best used with friends, family or people of equal or lower social status. For a polite version, you can say 気をつけて運転してください to make the instruction a formal request. You can also use お気をつけて as a polite way to say "please take care."
How do you pronounce it?
ki o tsukete unten shite ne
Did you know?
- The concept of 'care' in 気をつけて (ki o tsukete) literally means 'to attach one's spirit' or 'to attach one's energy' to the situation at hand.
- If you are the passenger, saying 気をつけて too many times to the driver can sometimes be perceived as a critique of their driving skill rather than a gesture of care.
- The phrase 運転 (unten) translates literally to 'steering/operating the machine', reflecting a focus on the mechanical operation of the vehicle rather than just the act of travel.
Examples in context
- 安全運転をお願い致します。We kindly ask for your safe driving.
- 安全運転してね、早く帰ってきてね。Drive safely and come back home soon.
- 夜道だから、気をつけて運転してね。Yomichi dakara, ki o tsukete unten shite ne.It's a dark road, so drive safe.
- 雨が降っているから、気をつけて運転してね。Ame ga futte iru kara, ki o tsukete unten shite ne.It's raining, so drive safe.
Example conversation
Kenta is leaving for a long car trip and Yui sees him off.
- 結衣 Yui出発するのね。Shuppatsu suru no ne.You're heading out now, right?
- 健太 Kentaうん、行ってくるよ。Un, itte kuru yo.Yeah, I'm off.
- 結衣 Yui気をつけて運転してね。Ki o tsukete unten shite ne.Drive safe.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう、気をつけるよ。Arigatou, ki o tsukeru yo.Thanks, I will be careful.
