1.
to be considerate; to show concern for others; to be attentive to someone's feelings or needs
Describes the act of paying careful attention to another person's comfort, feelings, or situation and adjusting one's behavior accordingly.
彼女はいつも周りに気を遣う。
She is always considerate of those around her.
上司に気を遣って疲れてしまった。
I wore myself out being attentive to my boss.
そんなに気を遣わなくていいですよ。楽にしてください。
You don't have to be so considerate. Please relax.
初めて彼の両親に会ったとき、気を遣いすぎて何も食べられなかった。
When I met his parents for the first time, I was so worried about making a good impression that I couldn't eat anything.
A very common expression describing social attentiveness. Unlike simple politeness, 気を遣う implies actively thinking about what others need or feel and modifying one's behavior. It can be seen as a positive trait, but overuse (気を遣いすぎる) is often described as exhausting.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 気を遣いすぎる: to be overly considerate
- 気を遣わせる: to make someone feel they need to be attentive
- 気を遣わなくていい: you don't need to be so considerate
- 気遣い: consideration; thoughtfulness (noun form)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 気を配る: to be watchful; to pay attention — focuses on being alert to surroundings rather than adjusting behavior for someone's comfort
- 思いやる: to be sympathetic; to empathize — emphasizes emotional understanding rather than behavioral adjustment
- 気にかける: to be concerned about — focuses on worry or thinking about someone, not necessarily acting on it