気を遣う
きをつかう
to be considerate, to be attentive to others
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
客に気を遣います。
きゃくにきをつかいます。
I'm attentive to the customers.
あまり気を遣わないでください。
あまりきをつかわないでください。
Please don't go to any trouble for me.
初めて会う人には、言葉に気を遣ってしまう。
はじめてあうひとには、ことばにきをつかってしまう。
With someone I'm meeting for the first time, I end up being careful with my words.
Common patterns
- 気を遣う
- to be considerate
- 気を遣わせる
- to put someone to trouble
- 気遣い
- thoughtfulness
Memory tip
This is the tiring effort of reading the room and being thoughtful — a 気を遣う relationship is polite but not relaxing. Don't confuse it with 気をつける, which is guarding against danger.
Kanji in this word
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does 気を遣う mean?