What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 気をつけて literally means "attach your attention" or "pay attention," with 気 meaning attention, を being an object marker and つけて meaning to attach or apply.
Which one should you use?
If you want to tell someone to "get well" or to "take care of yourself" specifically because they are sick or injured, use お大事に instead of 気をつけて, which is used for general safety.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 気をつけて is a casual version suitable for friends and family. For a more polite request suitable for strangers or superiors, you can use 気をつけてください. A very formal way to express the sentiment is 安全にお過ごしください, which translates to "Please spend your time safely."
How does it change in a sentence?
You can make the phrase a polite request by adding ください to the end, resulting in 気をつけてください. For a friendly, casual tone, you can add ね to the end to say 気をつけてね, which sounds like "Take care, okay?"
How do you pronounce it?
ki o tsukete
Did you know?
- The verb つける in this phrase also means 'to turn on' an appliance. To 'attach' one's attention is linguistically similar to 'switching on' a light.
- The word 気 in 気をつけて is the same character used in 元気 to mean 'healthy' or 'energetic'. In both cases, it refers to a person's internal spirit or energy.
- In some contexts, 気をつけて can be used sarcastically to tell someone to 'watch their step' if they are behaving recklessly or offensively.
Examples in context
- あなたの毎日が健康で安全でありますようにMay your everyday be healthy and safe.
- 道中、気をつけてください。douchuu, ki o tsukete kudasai.Please stay safe on your journey.
- 夜道は気をつけてね。yomichi wa ki o tsukete ne.Stay safe on the dark roads at night.
- 一人で帰る時は気をつけて。hitori de kaeru toki wa ki o tsukete.Stay safe when you go home alone.
Example conversation
Yui is seeing off Kenta as he departs for a long trip.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、道中気をつけてね。kenta-san, douchuu ki o tsukete ne.Kenta, stay safe on your journey.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう、結衣さん。arigatou, yui-san.Thank you, Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiまた連絡するね。mata renraku suru ne.I'll contact you again.
- 健太 Kentaうん、またね。un, mata ne.Yeah, see you later.
