Meaning and Usage
"注意" (ちゅうい) means "caution" or "attention" and is used to warn or advise someone to be careful or pay attention. It is a common noun but often appears in the phrase "注意する" (to be careful) or "注意してください" (please be careful).
Common Contexts
You will see "注意" used in everyday situations such as traffic safety (e.g., "車に注意してください"), instructions for medicine or equipment, and when asking someone to listen or watch carefully.
Collocations and Patterns
- 注意する: to be careful, to pay attention
- 注意してください: please be careful (polite request)
- 注意が必要: caution is necessary
- 注意して + verb: do something carefully
Register and Politeness
"注意" is neutral and polite when combined with "してください". It is appropriate in formal and informal contexts but is often used in polite requests or warnings.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "注意" with "気をつける" which also means "to be careful." "注意する" is more formal and often used in written or official contexts, while "気をつける" is more casual and conversational.