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Grammar detail: the many uses of 気(き)

the many uses of 気(き)
332 words
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き
気
, which is often translated literally as 'spirit', 'atmosphere', 'essence' etc, represents an extremely versatile concept, and forms the root of many useful daily phrases in Japanese. In Chinese the same kanji is typically transliterated to Qi, which (as well as being a handy Scrabble word) has come to be used in English to represent something similar.
On this page we have collected several of the most useful phrases based on 気 along with examples. For a list of all 250+ expressions in Japanese based on 気, use expression search: expression:気.

気になる

To become (passively) worried about or interested in something as a result of something external. Depending on context the translation could be 'interested', 'concerned', 'worried', etc.
わたし
私
は
かのじょ
彼女
の
びょうき
病気
のことがとても
き
気
になる。
I'm very concerned about her illness.

気にする

To pay attention to, to take notice of, to care about etc. Not dissimilar to 気になる, but implies 'worry' whereas 気にする implies more 'attention'.
きのう
昨日
の
えきしゃ
易者
の
うらな
占
い
なんか
き
気
にする
ことないよ。
What that fortuneteller said yesterday is nothing to be concerned about.
A very common use of this expression is in the negative imperative form, either as 気にしないで or 気にするな, meaning 'don't worry about it' (and as in English, the 'worry' doesn't necessarily imply actual 'worry', but just 'consideration' etc).

気に
い
入
る

To like, to be pleased with, to suit. This expression is usually used intransitively in the pattern: 〜が気に入る (to like ~). This expression carries no emotional connotations (whereas 〜が好き often will).
わたし
私
は
じぶん
自分
の
しごと
仕事
が
き
気
に
い
入
っている
。
I am very pleased with my job.

(に)気がつく

To notice, to become aware.
かれ
彼
が
き
気
がつく
と、
こうえん
公園
で
よこ
横
になっていた。
When he came to, he was lying in the park.

気を
ゆる
許
す

To let one's guard down; to gradually become comfortable with (someone).
まるで
おくびょう
臆病
な
しょうどうぶつ
小動物
がほんの
すこ
少
しずつ
あいて
相手
に
き
気
を
ゆる
許
していく
みたいに。
Just like a cowardly small animal gradually comes to let its guard down.

気をとる

To take care. Often used in the form
き
気
を
と
取
り
なお
直
す, indicating the idea of doing something again carefully.
き
気
をとりなおしてもう
いちど
一度
やってごらん。
Take heart and do it again.

気が小さい

Timid.
ごらんの
とお
通
り
わたし
私
は
き
気
が
ちい
小
さい
ですね。
As you can see I'm a timid person.

気まずい

Uncomfortable.
ひと
人
との
かいわ
会話
がとぎれて、
き
気
まずい
じかん
時間
ができた。
The conversation was interrupted, and an uncomfortable pause ensued.

気がある

Game for something, having an interest in something.
わたし
私
にはその
き
気
がある。
I'm game for it.

気が
た
立
つ

To get excited about something, to get worked up about something.
みんな
き
気
が
た
立
っている
。
They are all irritable.

気が
なが
長
い

Patient, willing to stick it out. (As here, any 気が expression can be turned into an adjective by replacing the が with の.)
それはずいぶん
き
気
の
なが
長
い
はなし
話
だ。
It's a very slow business.

気が
ひ
引
ける

Feel awkward or embarrassed.
みなさま
皆様
は
はなぶさ
英
ご
語
マスターが
おお
多
い
のでこういうところで
かいとう
回答
する
のは
き
気
が
ひ
引
ける
のですが。。。
There are so many people with excellent English here I feel awkward answering this ...

More expressions

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Words used in this grammar

き を ゆ る す 0
expression, 'su' godan verb
to let one's guard down
(click the word for examples and links)

Kanji used in this grammar

気
キ   ケ    spirit   
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入
ニュウ   いる to enter   はいる to enter   いれる to put in   
好
コウ   このむ    すく to like   
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許
キョ   ゆるす to permit, allow, forgive   
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取
シュ   とる to take   
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直
チョク   ジキ    honest; direct   なおす to correct   なおる to be cured   ただちに immediately   
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小
ショウ   こ-    お-    ちいさい small   
立
リツ   リュウ   たつ to stand   たてる to build   
長
チョウ   ながい long   
引
イン   ひく to pull   ひける to be over   
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私
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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彼
ヒ   かれ he   
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女
ジョ   ニョ   ニョウ   woman; female   おんな woman   め woman   
病
ヘイ   ビョウ   やまい illness   やむ to fall ill   
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昨
サク    yesterday   
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日
ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
易
イ   エキ   やさしい easy   
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者
シャ   もの person, someone   
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占
セン   しめる to occupy, hold   うらなう to tell fortunes   
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自
ジ   シ   みずから self   
分
ブン   ブ   フン   わける to divide, to distinguish   わかる to understand   わかれる to be divided   わかつ to share, distribute   
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仕
シ   ジ   つかえる to attend to   
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事
ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
公
コウ   おおやけ official, public   
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園
エン   その garden, park   
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横
オウ   よこ side   
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臆
オク    timid   
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動
ドウ   うごく to move, to stir   うごかす to shift, to move   
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物
ブツ   モツ   もの thing   
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少
ショウ   すこし a little   すくない few   
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相
ソウ   ショウ    minister   あい- mutual   
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手
シュ   hand   て    た-    
一
イチ   イツ   ひとつ    ひと- one   
度
ド   ト   タク   degree   たび occasion, time   
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通
ツ   ツウ   とおる to pass through   とおす to let pass   かよう to commute   
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人
ジン   ニン   ひと person   
会
カイ   エ   あう to meet   
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話
ワ   はなす to talk   はなし talking   
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時
ジ   とき time, occasion   
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間
カン   ケン   あいだ interval, between   ま space, room   
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皆
カイ   みな everyone   
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様
ヨウ   さま Mr / Mrs   
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英
エイ    England; hero; flower   
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語
ゴ   かたる to talk, relate   かたらう to talk together, chat   
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多
タ   おおい many   
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回
カイ   エ   まわる to revolve   まわす to make turn   
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答
トウ   こたえ an answer   こたえる to answer   
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