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道Nihongo Path

構う

かまう

to mind, care about

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 服装は構いません。

    ふくそうはかまいません。

    There's no dress code.

  2. どうぞお構いなく。

    どうぞおかまいなく。

    Please don't go to any trouble.

  3. 誰に何を言われても構わない。

    だれになにをいわれてもかまわない。

    I don't care what anyone says about me.

  4. 忙しくて子供に構ってあげられない。

    いそがしくてこどもにかまってあげられない。

    I'm so busy I can't give my child any attention.

Common patterns

〜ても構わない
it's fine even if...
お構いなく
please don't trouble yourself
構わず
regardless, without caring

Memory tip

You will mostly meet it negated: 構わない means "I don't mind", a softer way of granting permission than いいです. In the positive it means fussing over or paying attention to someone.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

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What does 構う mean?