注意を払う
pay attention
Literalmente: to pay (払う) caution/attention (注意)
Use this phrase when you want to sound professional and serious about being careful.
En 15 segundos
- Focusing mental energy on specific details.
- Used with the particle 'ni' for the target.
- More formal and deliberate than 'ki o tsukeru'.
Significado
It means to consciously focus your mind or energy on something to avoid mistakes, stay safe, or show respect. It's like 'spending' your mental currency to be extra careful about the details.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Giving a safety warning while driving
運転中は、歩行者に注意を払ってください。
Please pay attention to pedestrians while driving.
Checking a document for errors
細かい数字に注意を払って確認しました。
I checked it while paying attention to the small numbers.
Texting a friend about a slippery road
道が凍っているから、足元に注意を払ってね。
The road is frozen, so pay attention to your footing, okay?
Contexto cultural
The verb 'harau' (to pay) is the same one used for money, suggesting that attention is a valuable resource. In Japanese society, paying attention to surroundings is considered a basic social duty, often linked to the concept of 'reading the air'. It became a staple of formal and instructional Japanese during the modernization of the language.
The 'Money' Connection
Remember that 'harau' means 'to pay'. Just like money, your attention is a resource you spend. This helps you remember the verb!
Reading the Air
In Japan, 'paying attention' often refers to non-verbal cues. If you use this regarding a person's feelings, it shows you are a very considerate friend.
En 15 segundos
- Focusing mental energy on specific details.
- Used with the particle 'ni' for the target.
- More formal and deliberate than 'ki o tsukeru'.
What It Means
Think of your focus like a limited supply of coins. When you use 注意を払う, you are literally 'paying' those coins to a specific task. It is more than just looking. It is about being vigilant and mindful. You use it when you want to ensure nothing goes wrong. It implies a deliberate choice to be careful.
How To Use It
The grammar is simple. You use the particle に to point at what needs your focus. The pattern is: [Thing] + に + 注意を払う. For example, if you are proofreading, you pay attention to 'typos' (誤字). If you are walking in the rain, you pay attention to your 'feet' (足元). It’s a very versatile 'verb-object' combo.
When To Use It
This phrase shines in professional or serious settings. Use it when discussing safety, like driving or operating machinery. It is perfect for work meetings when discussing project details. You will also see it in news reports or instruction manuals. It sounds more sophisticated than the basic 気をつける (be careful). Use it when the stakes are a bit higher than usual.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for very casual, split-second warnings. If a friend is about to trip, don't yell 注意を払って！. Just shout 危ない！ (Dangerous!) or 気をつけて！. It also feels too heavy for light hobbies. You wouldn't 'pay attention' to a casual comic book. You just 'read' it. It’s for things that require actual effort.
Cultural Background
In Japan, there is a concept called 気配り (kikubari), which means distributing your care to others. 注意を払う is the mechanical cousin of this. It reflects a cultural value of precision and harm prevention. Being 'careless' is often seen as a lack of respect for the group. By 'paying' attention, you show you value the situation and the people involved.
Common Variations
You can spice this up with adverbs. 細心の注意を払う (pay the utmost attention) is a common one. It sounds very professional. You might also hear 注意を向ける, which means to 'turn' your attention toward something. But 払う remains the gold standard for being truly careful and thorough.
Notas de uso
This phrase sits comfortably in the neutral-to-formal range. It is grammatically fixed with the particle 'ni' for the object and 'o' for the attention itself.
The 'Money' Connection
Remember that 'harau' means 'to pay'. Just like money, your attention is a resource you spend. This helps you remember the verb!
Reading the Air
In Japan, 'paying attention' often refers to non-verbal cues. If you use this regarding a person's feelings, it shows you are a very considerate friend.
Don't shout it!
If a piano is falling from a window, don't use this phrase. It's too long and formal. Just yell 'Abunai!' (Dangerous!).
Ejemplos
6運転中は、歩行者に注意を払ってください。
Please pay attention to pedestrians while driving.
This is a standard safety instruction.
細かい数字に注意を払って確認しました。
I checked it while paying attention to the small numbers.
Shows you were being diligent at work.
道が凍っているから、足元に注意を払ってね。
The road is frozen, so pay attention to your footing, okay?
A bit more serious than a casual 'be careful'.
私のケーキを食べられないように、冷蔵庫に注意を払っています。
I'm paying close attention to the fridge so my cake doesn't get eaten.
Using a serious phrase for a silly situation creates humor.
食事の内容に注意を払う必要があります。
It is necessary to pay attention to the content of your meals.
Medical advice often uses this level of formality.
彼はいつも私の気持ちに注意を払ってくれる。
He always pays attention to my feelings.
Shows emotional attentiveness.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence: 'Safety (Anzen) ___ attention pay.'
安全___注意を払う。
The particle 'ni' is always used to indicate the target of your attention in this phrase.
Which verb completes the phrase 'pay attention'?
注意を___。
'Harau' (to pay) is the specific verb that collocations with 'chūi' (attention).
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Ayudas visuales
Formality of 'Being Careful'
Quick warnings to friends.
気をつけて！
Standard daily caution.
注意する
Deliberate focus or professional settings.
注意を払う
Where to use '注意を払う'
Driving
Road conditions
Office
Email typos
Nature
Slippery trails
Social
Someone's feelings
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasThey are similar, but 注意を払う is more formal and implies a more deliberate, sustained effort to be careful.
Yes! You can say 子供に注意を払う (pay attention to the children) to mean you are watching over them carefully.
Absolutely. It's very common in business to say you will 細心の注意を払う (pay the utmost attention) to a project.
It can also mean to 'brush off' or 'clear away', like 雪を払う (brush off snow). It's all about moving something with intent.
Yes, all the time. News anchors use it to warn the public about weather or traffic conditions.
Only if the hobby requires precision. For example, プラモデルの塗装に注意を払う (pay attention to painting a plastic model).
Just change 払う to 払った. For example: 注意を払いました (I paid attention).
You can say 私に注意を払ってください, but it sounds very formal, like a teacher or a public speaker asking for silence.
The opposite would be 不注意 (fuchūi), which means carelessness or inattention.
It is used in both, but it's more common in formal speech and written instructions than in casual chat.
Frases relacionadas
気をつける
To be careful (standard/casual)
注目する
To observe/watch closely (like a show or trend)
気を配る
To be considerate of others' needs
用心する
To be on guard/take precautions
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