気を付ける
きをつける · kiwotsukeru · JLPT N2 · expression
to be careful
⚠️ 気 (ki, spirit/mind) + 付ける (attach): attach your mind to what's around you, so be careful
Literally 'attach your spirit/attention to something.' Use it for watching your step, paying attention, or taking care of your health.
付 — person radical 亻 + hand 寸
付 originally pictured a hand (寸) reaching out to hand something to a person (亻), depicting the act of giving or delivering. The core sense 'to hand over, deliver, pay' has remained stable since ancient bronze inscriptions. It also serves as a phonetic component in characters like 附, 符, and 府.