気(き)をつけて

きをつけて
expression
take care, be careful
1. take care, be careful
An expression telling someone to be careful or take care. Often used when someone is leaving. Comes from 気(き)をつける (to pay attention, to be careful).
気(き)をつけて行(い)ってきてね。
Take care and have a good trip.
車(くるま)に気(き)をつけてください。
Please be careful of cars.
Polite form
道(みち)が暗(くら)いから、足元(あしもと)に気(き)をつけてね。
The road is dark, so watch your step.
子供(こども)が小(ちい)さいので、車(くるま)が多(おお)い道(みち)では気(き)をつけてください。
Since the children are small, please be careful on roads with heavy traffic.
来週(らいしゅう)から一人(ひとり)で旅行(りょこう)に行(い)くので、食(た)べ物(もの)や体(からだ)に気(き)をつけて、元気(げんき)に帰(かえ)ってきてね。
Since you're going on a trip alone next week, be careful about food and your health, and come home well.

気(き)をつけて is a common expression meaning "take care" or "be careful." It's the te-form of 気(き)をつける (to pay attention, be careful).

FORMALITY:

  • 気(き)をつけて: casual
  • 気(き)をつけてね: casual with softening particle
  • 気(き)をつけてください: polite
  • お気(き)をつけて: honorific/polite

USES:

1. FAREWELL (when someone is leaving):

  • 気(き)をつけて行(い)ってきてね: Take care on your way
  • 気(き)をつけて帰(かえ)ってね: Get home safely

2. WARNING (about specific dangers):

  • 車(くるま)に気(き)をつけて: Watch out for cars
  • 足元(あしもと)に気(き)をつけて: Watch your step
  • 体(からだ)に気(き)をつけて: Take care of your health

3. GENERAL CAUTION:

  • 夜道(よみち)は気(き)をつけて: Be careful on dark streets at night

BASE VERB:

気(き)をつける can also mean:

  • to be careful/mindful: 言葉(ことば)に気(き)をつける (to be careful with one's words)
  • military command: 気(き)をつけ！(Attention!)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:23 · Revised 2026.2.24 10:54
01000/01080_kiwotsukete