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B1 verb #2,500 am häufigsten 5 Min. Lesezeit

気を配る

ki o kubaru
At the A1 level, '気を配る' (ki o kubaru) might be a bit difficult because it is a compound verb. However, you can think of it as a 'super-polite' way to say you are looking at things carefully. Imagine you are having a party. You look at your friends' glasses. If they are empty, you give them more water. That action of looking and helping is '気を配る'. It is like 'sharing' (配る) your 'heart/attention' (気) with everyone. In simple Japanese, it is similar to 'yoku miru' (look well) but with a kind heart. You use the particle 'ni' for the person you are helping. For example: 'Tomodachi ni ki o kubaru' (I pay attention to my friends). It is a very nice thing to do in Japan!
At the A2 level, you should start to distinguish '気を配る' from '気をつける'. While 'ki o tsukeru' means 'be careful' (like when crossing the street), '気を配る' means 'to be thoughtful'. It is used when you want to make sure everyone is happy or that a job is done perfectly. For example, if you are a waiter, you 'ki o kubaru' to the customers. If you are a student, you 'ki o kubaru' to your teacher's instructions. The word 'kubaru' usually means to hand out things like cards or newspapers. So, 'ki o kubaru' means you are handing out your attention to many different places at once. This is a very important skill in Japanese culture called 'omotenashi'.
At the B1 level, '気を配る' is a key vocabulary item for describing personality and professional skills. It implies a proactive and wide-ranging attention. It is often used with adverbs like '細かく' (komakaku - in detail) or '常に' (tsune ni - always). You will see this in job descriptions or performance reviews. A person who can 'ki o kubaru' is considered reliable and socially aware. Grammatically, remember that it is an intransitive verb phrase, usually taking 'ni' for the object of attention. It is different from 'ki o tsukau' because 'ki o tsukau' can sometimes sound like you are tired from being too polite, whereas 'ki o kubaru' is almost always a positive, skillful action.
At the B2 level, you should understand the nuance of '気を配る' as an essential component of social harmony (wa). It is the active form of 'reading the air' (kuuki o yomu). In business, it refers to 'attention to detail' in products or 'attentiveness' in client relations. You might encounter the passive or causative forms in literature, but the plain form is most common. It is frequently used in the context of 'hospitality' (setsu-yoku) and 'management' (kanri). You should also be able to distinguish it from '配慮する' (hairyo suru), which is the more formal, Sino-Japanese (kango) equivalent used in writing or very formal speeches. 'Ki o kubaru' remains the preferred choice for spoken praise and general descriptions of behavior.
At the C1 level, '気を配る' should be used with precision to describe subtle social dynamics. It represents the 'omni-directional' nature of Japanese attentiveness. A C1 learner should recognize that 'ki o kubaru' involves anticipating needs that haven't been expressed—a form of non-verbal communication. It is often contrasted with '目が行き届く' (me o ikitodoku), which is more about surveillance and ensuring no mistakes occur, whereas 'ki o kubaru' has a warmer, more human-centric connotation. You will find this word in high-level literature and editorials discussing social ethics or the quality of Japanese craftsmanship (monozukuri), where every tiny detail is 'ki o kubarareta' (given attention).
At the C2 level, you master the philosophical implications of '気を配る'. It is not merely a verb but a reflection of the Japanese psyche regarding the 'self' in relation to the 'other'. It signifies a state of 'zanshin' (remaining mind) where one's awareness is distributed across the environment without being fixed on a single point. In advanced discourse, you might use it to discuss the aesthetics of 'Ma' (space) or the intricacies of 'Saho' (etiquette). You understand its role in maintaining the 'Uchi-Soto' (inside-outside) balance and can use it to critique or analyze complex social interactions in professional, political, or literary contexts with native-like sensitivity to its weight and history.
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気を配る in 30 Sekunden

  • Proactive attentiveness to others' needs.
  • Essential for Japanese social harmony and service.
  • Used with the particle 'ni' for the target.
  • Implies maturity and professional care.

The Japanese verb 気を配る (ki o kubaru) is a sophisticated and essential expression that translates to 'to pay attention to,' 'to be considerate,' or 'to look out for.' At its linguistic core, it combines 気 (spirit, mind, or attention) with 配る (to distribute or hand out). This literal 'distributing of one's attention' perfectly captures the proactive nature of Japanese social harmony. Unlike simply 'noticing' something, 気を配る implies a conscious, multi-directional effort to ensure everything is running smoothly or that everyone is comfortable.

Proactive Consideration
It describes the act of looking around and anticipating needs before they are voiced.
Broad Focus
Unlike 'ki o tsukeru' (be careful), this focuses on a wide area or multiple people.
Social Lubricant
It is the hallmark of 'Omotenashi' (Japanese hospitality).

「彼は周りの人々に細かく気を配る人だ。」 (He is a person who pays close attention to the people around him.)

In a professional setting, 気を配る is what a manager does when they check on the mental health of their team, or what a host does when they ensure no guest's glass is empty. It is not just about avoiding mistakes; it is about creating a positive environment through active observation. The verb 配る is the same one used for distributing flyers or cards, suggesting that you are 'handing out' your mental energy to various points of concern.

「細部にまで気を配った素晴らしいデザインですね。」 (This is a wonderful design that has paid attention to even the smallest details.)

Usage with Particles
Usually takes the particle に to indicate the object of attention (e.g., 周りに, 細部に).

Using 気を配る correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure and the specific contexts where it shines. It is most commonly used with the particle に (ni) to mark the target of your attention. Whether you are paying attention to 'people' (人), 'safety' (安全), or 'details' (細部), the structure remains [Target] + に + 気を配る.

「サービス業では、お客様の表情に気を配ることが大切です。」 (In the service industry, it is important to pay attention to the customers' facial expressions.)

The verb can be used in various forms: 気を配っています (continuous state of being attentive), 気を配ってください (please be attentive), or as a noun-modifying phrase like 気を配った対応 (an attentive response). It is often paired with adverbs like 細かく (komakaku - finely/minutely) or 常に (tsune ni - always) to emphasize the degree of care.

Common Collocations
服装に気を配る (Pay attention to one's dress/appearance)
言葉遣いに気を配る (Pay attention to one's choice of words)
健康に気を配る (Pay attention to one's health)

「彼は常に周囲に気を配って行動している。」 (He always acts while paying attention to his surroundings.)

You will encounter 気を配る in a variety of settings, ranging from formal business environments to daily social interactions. It is a 'praise' word in many contexts, used to describe someone who is thoughtful and reliable.

In the Workplace
Managers use it to describe the need for quality control or team management. 'We must pay attention to the schedule' (納期に気を配る).
In Hospitality
In hotels or restaurants, staff are trained to 'ki o kubaru' to ensure guests are happy before they even have to ask for anything.
In Parenting/Education
Teachers and parents are often described as 'ki o kubaru' when they monitor children's emotional states.

「リーダーはメンバーの体調にも気を配るべきだ。」 (A leader should also pay attention to the physical condition of the members.)

In news reports or documentaries, you might hear it used to describe a craftsman's attention to detail or a politician's efforts to consider various public opinions. It carries a sense of 'professionalism' and 'maturity'.

The most frequent mistake learners make is confusing 気を配る with other 'Ki' (気) expressions. Because Japanese has dozens of these, it's easy to swap them incorrectly.

Vs. 気をつける (Ki o tsukeru)
'Ki o tsukeru' is for safety or avoiding errors (e.g., 'Watch out for cars!'). 'Ki o kubaru' is for proactive care and consideration.
Vs. 気にする (Ki ni suru)
'Ki ni suru' means to worry or be bothered by something. 'Ki o kubaru' is a positive, outward action, not an internal worry.
Vs. 気を使う (Ki o tsukau)
'Ki o tsukau' often implies a sense of fatigue or obligation (walking on eggshells). 'Ki o kubaru' is generally viewed as a positive skill or trait.

❌ 「車に気を配ってください。」 (Wrong if you mean 'Watch out for the car!')
✅ 「車に気をつけてください。」 (Correct: Be careful of cars.)

Another mistake is using the wrong particle. Always use に for the object. Using を twice (e.g., 人を気を配る) is grammatically incorrect.

To truly master 気を配る, you should know its synonyms and how they differ in tone and scope.

配慮する (Hairyo suru)
A more formal, often written version. Used in business emails: 'We appreciate your consideration' (ご配慮に感謝します).
目を行き届かせる (Me o ikitodokaseru)
Literally 'to let one's eyes reach everywhere.' This emphasizes the 'oversight' and 'supervision' aspect of paying attention.
気兼ねする (Kigane suru)
To feel hesitant or constrained by consideration for others. This is more about the internal feeling of not wanting to bother someone.

「彼は細かいところまで配慮ができる人だ。」 (He is a person capable of great consideration.)

While 気を配る is versatile, 配慮する is better for official documents, and 気を遣う is better for describing the social effort of being polite in a potentially stressful situation.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

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Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

みんなに気を配る。

Pay attention to everyone.

Simple present tense.

2

お母さんは子供に気を配る。

The mother looks after the child.

Subject + wa + Object + ni + verb.

3

先生は学生に気を配ります。

The teacher pays attention to the students.

Polite -masu form.

4

パーティーで友達に気を配った。

I looked after my friends at the party.

Past tense -ta.

5

もっと周りに気を配ってください。

Please pay more attention to your surroundings.

-te kudasai (request).

6

彼はいつも気を配っている。

He is always being attentive.

-te iru (continuous).

7

料理に気を配る。

Pay attention to the cooking.

Object + ni.

8

みんなに気を配りましょう。

Let's pay attention to everyone.

-mashou (suggestion).

1

お客様に気を配ることは大切です。

It is important to pay attention to customers.

Verb + koto wa + adjective.

2

細かいところに気を配ってください。

Please pay attention to the small details.

Adjective + tokoro ni.

3

彼女は服装にとても気を配っている。

She pays a lot of attention to her clothes.

Adverb 'totemo' + continuous form.

4

仕事ではミスがないように気を配る。

At work, I pay attention so there are no mistakes.

Noun + de wa + purpose clause.

5

健康に気を配って生活しています。

I am living while paying attention to my health.

-te form used as 'while'.

6

彼は周りの空気に気を配るのが上手だ。

He is good at reading the room (paying attention to the air).

Verb nominalization + ga jouzu.

7

言葉遣いに気を配りなさい。

Pay attention to your language (choice of words).

-nasai (command).

8

安全に気を配って運転する。

Drive while paying attention to safety.

Adverbial use.

1

リーダーはチーム全員の体調に気を配るべきだ。

A leader should pay attention to the physical condition of all team members.

beki da (should).

2

彼女は細部まで気を配った仕事をする。

She does work that pays attention to even the smallest details.

Noun-modifying past tense.

3

相手の気持ちに気を配りながら話す。

Speak while paying attention to the other person's feelings.

-nagara (simultaneous action).

4

環境に気を配った製品を開発する。

Develop products that pay attention to the environment.

Compound noun phrase.

5

彼は後輩の指導に細かく気を配っている。

He is paying detailed attention to the guidance of his juniors.

Adverb 'komakaku'.

6

サービス業では、客のニーズに気を配ることが求められる。

In the service industry, paying attention to customer needs is required.

Passive voice 'motomerareru'.

7

自分のことだけでなく、他人にも気を配りなさい。

Pay attention to others, not just yourself.

dake de naku (not only).

8

会場の設営には細心の注意を払い、気を配った。

We paid the utmost attention and care to the venue setup.

Parallel verb phrases.

1

経営者は社員のメンタルヘルスにも気を配る必要がある。

Business owners need to pay attention to employees' mental health as well.

hitsuyou ga aru (need to).

2

その作家は、言葉の響き一つ一つに気を配っている。

That author pays attention to every single sound of the words.

hitotsu hitotsu (each and every).

3

近隣住民に気を配りながら工事を進める。

Proceed with construction while being considerate of local residents.

Context of social responsibility.

4

彼は自分の発言が周囲に与える影響に気を配った。

He paid attention to the impact his remarks would have on those around him.

Relative clause modifying 'eikyou'.

5

細やかなところまで気を配るのが、日本流のおもてなしだ。

Paying attention to even the smallest details is the Japanese style of hospitality.

Nominalized phrase as subject.

6

政治家は多方面の意見に気を配らなければならない。

Politicians must pay attention to opinions from various quarters.

-nakereba naranai (must).

7

彼女の気を配った対応のおかげで、トラブルは回避された。

Thanks to her attentive response, the trouble was avoided.

okage de (thanks to).

8

デザインの美しさだけでなく、使い勝手にも気を配るべきだ。

You should pay attention not only to the beauty of the design but also to its usability.

Contrastive 'dake de naku'.

1

グローバル企業として、異文化への理解と配慮に気を配る。

As a global company, we pay attention to cross-cultural understanding and consideration.

Formal corporate context.

2

伝統芸能の継承には、形式だけでなく精神性にも気を配る必要がある。

In inheriting traditional arts, it is necessary to pay attention not only to form but also to spirituality.

Abstract concept target.

3

彼は、組織内の微妙な人間関係の変化に鋭く気を配っている。

He is keenly attentive to subtle changes in interpersonal relationships within the organization.

Adverb 'suruku' (keenly).

4

都市計画においては、利便性と景観の調和に気を配らねばならない。

In urban planning, one must pay attention to the harmony between convenience and scenery.

-neba naranai (formal must).

5

その看護師は、患者のわずかな表情の変化にも気を配っていた。

The nurse was paying attention to even the slightest changes in the patient's expression.

Emphasis on 'wazuka na' (slight).

6

文章を書く際は、読者の知識レベルに気を配ることが肝要だ。

When writing, it is essential to pay attention to the reader's level of knowledge.

kanyou da (essential).

7

職人は、素材の性質を最大限に活かすよう、温度や湿度に気を配る。

Craftsmen pay attention to temperature and humidity to make the most of the material's properties.

Technical context.

8

外交交渉では、相手国のメンツに気を配ることが成功の鍵となる。

In diplomatic negotiations, paying attention to the other country's 'face' is the key to success.

Diplomatic context.

1

万象に気を配り、一期一会の精神で客を迎える。

Paying attention to all things, one welcomes guests with the spirit of 'once-in-a-lifetime'.

Literary/Philosophical.

2

その建築家は、光と影の相互作用が居住者の心理に与える影響にまで気を配った。

The architect even paid attention to the impact that the interaction of light and shadow has on the psychology of the residents.

Highly complex relative clauses.

3

言論の自由を担保しつつ、社会的弱者への配慮に気を配るバランスが問われている。

The balance of ensuring freedom of speech while paying attention to consideration for the socially vulnerable is being questioned.

Sociopolitical analysis.

4

古典文学の翻訳においては、原文の韻律と現代の語感の乖離に気を配らざるを得ない。

In translating classical literature, one cannot help but pay attention to the gap between the rhythm of the original and modern linguistic sensibilities.

-zaru o enai (cannot help but).

5

彼は、自らの権力が周囲の忖度を招かぬよう、言動に細心の気を配っている。

He pays the utmost attention to his words and actions so that his power does not invite 'sontaku' (conjectural compliance) from those around him.

Advanced social concept 'sontaku'.

6

生態系の微妙な均衡に気を配ることは、人類の存続に直結する課題である。

Paying attention to the subtle balance of the ecosystem is an issue directly linked to the survival of humanity.

Global scale context.

7

その指揮者は、オーケストラの各楽器が織りなす音の重なりに、極限まで気を配った。

The conductor paid attention to the limit to the layering of sounds woven by each instrument in the orchestra.

Artistic perfectionism.

8

歴史の教訓に気を配り、過ちを繰り返さない英知が求められている。

The wisdom to pay attention to the lessons of history and not repeat mistakes is required.

Abstract philosophical appeal.

Häufige Kollokationen

細部に気を配る
周囲に気を配る
健康に気を配る
服装に気を配る
言葉遣いに気を配る
体調に気を配る
安全に気を配る
他人の気持ちに気を配る
食事に気を配る
細かいところに気を配る

Häufige Phrasen

気を配った対応

隅々まで気を配る

常に気を配る

多方面に気を配る

気を配りすぎる

気を配る余裕がない

気を配る必要がある

気を配るべき点

気を配るのが上手だ

気を配ることを忘れない

Wird oft verwechselt mit

気を配る vs 気をつける

Focuses on safety/avoiding errors.

気を配る vs 気にする

Focuses on internal worry/anxiety.

気を配る vs 気を遣う

Focuses on the effort/burden of being polite.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

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Leicht verwechselbar

気を配る vs

気を配る vs

気を配る vs

気を配る vs

気を配る vs

Satzmuster

So verwendest du es

proactive

Implies acting before being asked.

professional

Highly used in professional evaluations.

positive connotation

Almost always positive, unlike 'ki o tsukau'.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using 'o' instead of 'ni' for the target.
  • Confusing it with 'ki o tsukeru' in safety contexts.
  • Using it to mean 'worrying' (should be 'ki ni suru').
  • Thinking it's a negative thing (like 'walking on eggshells').
  • Misspelling 'kubaru' (配る).

Tipps

The Spirit of Omotenashi

Mastering this word helps you understand the core of Japanese hospitality and social expectations.

Particle Choice

Always remember the particle 'ni'. It points your attention like an arrow to the target.

Praising Others

Use 'kikubari ga dekiru hito' to compliment someone's social skills.

Not Just Watching

Remember 'kubaru' means to distribute. You are actively spreading your awareness.

In the Office

Use it in interviews to show you are a team player who cares about the environment.

Descriptive Power

Use it to describe a scene where someone is being very kind and observant.

Catch the Context

When you hear it, look for what the person is doing—they are usually helping or checking something.

The Card Dealer

Think of a card dealer (kubaru) handing out cards (ki) to every player (target).

Harmony

This word is a 'harmony' word. It’s about making things smooth for everyone.

Beyond the Basics

Try using it with 'saibu made' (to the details) to sound more like a native speaker.

Einprägen

Wortherkunft

Kultureller Kontext

The heart of Japanese service is anticipating needs.

Reading the atmosphere is the first step to 'ki o kubaru'.

The ultimate goal of being attentive is to maintain peace.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"どうやって周りに気を配っていますか？"

"気を配るのが上手な人は誰ですか？"

"仕事で一番気を配っていることは何ですか？"

"日本のおもてなしについてどう思いますか？"

"気を配りすぎて疲れることはありますか？"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日、誰かに気を配ったエピソードを書いてください。

気を配ることは、あなたの文化ではどう評価されますか？

自分が気を配ってもらって嬉しかったことは？

「気を配る」と「気を使う」の違いについて考えてみましょう。

将来、どのようなことに気を配れる人になりたいですか？

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It is polite and standard, suitable for both daily life and business. For very formal writing, use 'hairyo suru'.

Yes, e.g., 'I try to pay attention to my health' (Kenkou ni ki o kubatte imasu).

The noun form is 'Kikubari' (気配り), meaning attentiveness or consideration.

It is the action you take *after* reading the air. You read the air, then you 'ki o kubaru'.

No, use 'ki o tsukeru' for danger. 'Ki o kubaru' is for quality and comfort.

Usually no. 'Ki o tsukau' implies the fatigue of social interaction more.

You can say 'kikubari ga tarinai' (lack of attentiveness).

Yes, a player 'ki o kubaru' to the whole field to see where teammates are.

Yes, like 'paying attention to the details of a machine'.

Yes, it often appears in N3 and N2 levels.

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