Introduction lesson of “気” ( = ki)

「マギーには気を使うなあ…」

 = Maggie ni wa kiwo tsukau naa..

= Maggie makes me nervous so I have to be attentive towards her…

・I really have to watch my step around Maggie. (Because I don’t want to make her angry.)

Today we will focus on a kanji 「気」( = ki)!

気 means “feeling, sentiment, mind, air”, or something more profound or spiritual, like “active (life) energy”, “undefinable power”, or “prana”.

Let’s start withthe expression「気を使う（or 遣う）」= ( Ki wo tsukau) !

Cookie in the picture is thinking,

「マギーには気を使うなあ…」

 = Maggie niwa kiwo tsukau naa.

Its literal meaning is

“I use “ki” towards Maggie  or Maggie makes me use my “ki”

meaning Cookie (remember Cookie is a male pooch) feels like he is compelled to pay special attention or to show concern, be careful, sensitive, or attentive towards Maggie not to make her angry or upset or to make her happy.

Usually, you use “ki” (being more attentive or paying attention) when you are around your supervisors or somebody you think they are superior or sensitive or sensitive things as well.

If someone is not paying attention or being sensitive enough, people might say,

→「もっと気を使いなさい！」

 = Motto kiwo tsukainasai!

= Be more attentive/sensitive!

「もっと気を使ったら？」

 = Motto kiwo tsukattara?  (softer)

= Why don’t you be more attentive/sensitive?

 

On the contrary, if you are too polite or attentive, people might tell you,

「どうか、(お）気を使わないで下さい。」

 = Douka (o) kiwo tukawanai de kudasai.

= Don’t bother. Don’t worry about me so much. Please relax!

There are lots of 　「気」”ki” words and expressions. I will show you only a part of them.

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🔸 　空気  ( = kuuki)  air, atmosphere (空：sora/ kuu sky or empty)

空気を読む ( = kuuki wo yomu ) ： to read between the lines/ to sense what is happening around you or people’s feelings around you.

(There is a slang KY which is an abbreviation of 「空気(が）読めない」 ( = Kuuki(ga) Yomenai　→This expression is old-fashioned now in 2023.)

「彼、KYだね！」

 = Kare “kei-wai” dane! 　

 = He can’t read between the lines.

🔸 　元気：genki energetic, active, in a good shape, 「元」 moto/ gen = origin(al)

Ex. 「元気？」

= Genki?

= How are you? (Are you OK?)

• 気の流れ  ( =  ki no nagare)  flow of energy

Ex. ここは気の流れがいいですね。

= Koko wa ki no nagare ga ii desu ne.

= It has good energy around here. (流れ ( =  nagare)   =flow )

• 気が短い　

= ki ga mijikai

= short tempered

「短 」( = tan/mijikai) short)

•気配りする

= kikubarisuru.

to pay attention, to be attentive

(「配」( = hai/ kubaru)  = to distribute, give out)

•気が狂う　

= ki ga kuruu

(「狂」( kyou/kuruu ) to go crazy) means “go crazy!”

•気楽(にする）　

= kiraku (nisuru)

「楽」(raku/tanoshii)  to have fun, to be easy, carefree ) means “take it easy”

Ex. もっと気楽にどうぞ。

= Motto kiraku ni douzo!

= Take it easy!

For those who have already known lots of ki-expressions, I made the following check test so please try to fill in the blanks!

がんばって！ ( = Gambatte) Good luck! :maggie-small:

１）to like something

“I really like your present!”

🔸あなたの贈り物、とっても気に（　　　　）ました。

 = Anata no okurimono, tottemo kini (               ) mashita.

２）to be careful

A car is coming! Be careful! (Watch out!)

🔸車が来る！気を（　　　　　）！

 = Kuruma ga kuru! Ki wo ( 　　　)!

３）feeling of faintness, to feel stunned, mind-boggling

I feel overwhelmed by just thinking about how much money it would cost from now.

🔸これからどれだけお金がかかるか考えただけで 気が（　　　）なる。

 = Korekara doredake okane ga kakaruka kangaeta dakede ki ga (           ) narru.

４）imagination :

“Is it just me?” “Is it my imagination?”

🔸 気の（　　　　）かな？

 = Ki no (           ) kana?

５）pride :

“She is so proud so no one likes her.”

🔸彼女は気（　　）が高いので皆が嫌っている。

= Kanojyo wa ki(            ) ga takai node mina ga kiratte iru.

６）to be concerned, worry about

“Don’t worry about me! ”

🔸私のことは気に（　　）ないで。

= Watashi no koto wa ki ni (          ) naide.

７）to be distracted

“Don’t talk to me! I will get distracted! “

🔸気が（　　）から話しかけないで！

 = Ki ga (          ) kara hanashi kakenai de.

８）to be capricious, erratic

”He is so erratic that I don’t trust him so much.”

🔸彼は本当に気（　　　　）なので信用していない。

 = Kare wa hontou ni ki (          ) nanode shinyou shiteinai.

９）to be into someone

“He is into her but she is not.”

🔸彼は彼女に気が（　　　）ますが、彼女は彼に気が（　　　　　）ません。

= Kare wa kanojyo ni ki ga (        ) masu ga kanojyo wa kare ni ki ga (          ) masen.

１０）to hit it off, get along with someone

“John and Maggie get along well”

🔸ジョンとマギーは気が（　　　）ます。

 = Jyon to maggie wa ki ga (           ) masu.

出来た？( = Dekita?)  Did you finish them?

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🔸 答え ( = Kotae ) （Answers!) with 基本形 ( = kihonkei)  (basic form)

 

1)　入り  ( = iri )→ 気に入る  ( =ki ni iru) 

２）付けて  ( = tsukete) →  気を付ける ( = ki wo tsukeru)

３）遠く  ( = tooku) →  気が遠くなる ( = ki ga tooku naru)

４）せい  ( = sei)→  気のせい ( =ki no sei) 

５）位 ( = gurai) →  気位 ( = ki gurai) 

６）し ( = shi) →  気にする ( = ki ni suru)

７）散る  ( = chiru)→  気が散る ( = ki ga chiru) 

８）まぐれ  ( = magure) →  気まぐれ ( = ki magure) 

９）あり  ( = ari )→  気がある ( = ki ga aru )

 (Note. 　気がない ( = ki ga nai)  = not be into someone)

１０）合い  ( = ai ) →  気が合う  ( = ki ga au) 

 

  マギー先生からクッキーへ　

= Maggie-sensei kara Cookie e 

= From Maggie-sensei to Cookie

もっと気を使ってよね！　

= Motto ki wo tsukatte yone!

=  Be more attentive, OK?

 
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This is an introducotry lesson. Check the complete 気 Lesson

Link →Click here

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