Chinese word

当心

Pronunciation

Pinyindāng xīn

Meaning

  • verbbe careful

Example

上楼梯时要当心，别摔倒。shàng lóu tī shí yào dāng xīn bié shuāi dǎo

Be careful when going up the stairs, or you might fall.

Illustration for 当心 (be careful)

More examples

听陌生人推荐时要当心可能的陷阱。tīng mò shēng rén tuī jiàn shí yào dāng xīn kě néng de xiàn jǐng

Be careful of possible traps when listening to recommendations from strangers.

Core concept

A possible danger becomes the center of attention, so a person stays alert and avoids harm or mistakes.

Common phrases

  • 当心被盗dāng xīn bèi dào

    beware of theft

  • 当心上当dāng xīn shàng dàng

    beware of being tricked

  • 当心食物中毒dāng xīn shí wù zhòng dú

    beware of food poisoning

Similar words

小心xiǎo xīn: Being careful about actions or things in order to prevent danger or errors.
注意zhù yì: Directing attention to information or instructions so that errors and oversights are less likely.
留意liú yì: Keeping attention on someone's words or a situation and remembering what matters.
警惕jǐng tì: Remaining watchful for danger or hostility in order to avoid harm or trouble.

Definition in Chinese

提醒别人或告诫自己注意，以防危险、受伤或犯错，口语中常用作简短的警示。tí xǐng bié rén huò gào jiè zì jǐ zhù yì yǐ fáng wēi xiǎn shòu shāng huò fàn cuò kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng zuò jián duǎn de jǐng shì

Word origin

当 (dāng, "to face or attend to") + 心 (xīn, "heart or mind") forms the image of directing the mind toward a possible danger, giving the compound its warning sense.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, the word can stand alone as a sharp warning, or it can come before a hazard or risky action; this compact pattern is common in signs and spoken alerts.

Other meanings

  • take precautionsverb
  • be on guardverb

Opposites

  • 放松警惕fàng sōng jǐng tìlet your guard downverb

Word lists with this word