1.
to worry about, to be concerned about, to care about
To keep something on one's mind out of concern or care. Implies ongoing mental attention to someone or something, often with a caring or worried nuance.
母はいつも私のことを気にかけている。
My mother is always concerned about me.
そんなに気にかけなくても大丈夫ですよ。
You don't need to worry about it that much.
入院している友人のことが気にかかって仕方がない。
I can't stop worrying about my friend who's in the hospital.
Uses the intransitive form 気にかかる.
USAGE:
A warm expression implying genuine care or concern. Often used to describe how someone keeps another person in their thoughts.
RELATED FORMS:
- 気にかかる (intransitive): to weigh on one's mind, to be worried about
- 気にする: to mind, to worry about (more neutral, can include self-conscious worry)
- 気になる: to be curious about; to be concerned about
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜のことを気にかける: to be concerned about someone/something
- いつも気にかけてくれる: always cares about (me/us)