A2 noun 2 min de lecture

주의

Caution means being very careful to avoid danger or mistakes.

juui
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

주의 means to be careful. You use it when you see a sign that says 'Caution'. It helps you stay safe and avoid mistakes.

You use 주의 to tell someone to pay attention. For example, if the floor is wet, you see a 'Caution' sign. It is a very important word for safety.

주의 is often used in the phrase '주의하세요' to mean 'please be careful.' It is common in formal settings, like manuals or public announcements, to warn people about potential risks.

At this level, you will encounter 주의 in more abstract contexts, such as 'paying attention' (주의를 기울이다) to a lecture or a complex social situation. It implies a conscious effort to focus.

주의 carries nuance regarding 'mindfulness' or 'prudence.' In academic or professional writing, it is used to describe the necessity of careful deliberation before acting or making a critical decision.

Beyond simple caution, 주의 reflects a philosophical state of 'focused intent.' It is used in literary contexts to describe a character's deep concentration or the meticulous nature of their actions, highlighting the etymological root of 'pouring one's mind' into a task.

Mot en 30 secondes

  • Means caution or attention.
  • Used in both formal signs and daily advice.
  • Often paired with '하다' or '기울이다'.
  • Essential for safety and focus.

Hey there! Let's talk about 주의 (Caution). Think of it as your internal alarm system that tells you to slow down and look around.

When you use this word, you are describing a state of vigilance. It is not just about being scared; it is about being smart. Whether it is a 'Caution' sign on a wet floor or a friend telling you to 'exercise caution' with your money, this word is all about preventing accidents before they happen.

The word 주의 comes from Sino-Korean roots. The character 注 (ju) means 'to pour' or 'to focus,' and 意 (ui) means 'mind' or 'thought.'

Historically, it literally translates to 'pouring your mind' into something. This is a beautiful way to think about it—when you are being careful, you are literally pouring your focus into your actions to ensure nothing goes wrong. It has been a staple in Korean philosophy for centuries, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness in daily life.

You will see 주의 everywhere in daily life. It is commonly used in formal signs, like 미끄럼 주의 (Caution: Slippery), but also in casual advice.

When you want to tell someone to be careful, you can say '주의하세요' (Please be careful). It is a very versatile word that fits in both professional safety manuals and gentle advice between friends. Just remember, it sounds a bit more serious than just '조심해' (watch out).

1. 주의를 기울이다: To pay attention. Example: '수업에 주의를 기울이세요.' (Please pay attention in class.)

2. 주의를 환기하다: To draw attention to something. Example: '그는 문제에 주의를 환기했다.' (He drew attention to the issue.)

3. 주의 깊게: Carefully. Example: '주의 깊게 읽어보세요.' (Read it carefully.)

4. 주의 사항: Precautions/Warnings. Example: '사용 전 주의 사항을 읽으세요.' (Read the precautions before use.)

5. 주의를 주다: To give a warning. Example: '선생님이 학생에게 주의를 주었다.' (The teacher gave the student a warning.)

In Korean, 주의 acts as a noun. You can attach particles like '가' (subject) or '를' (object) to it.

Pronunciation is straightforward: 'ju-ui'. Make sure to pronounce both vowels clearly. It is often combined with verbs like '하다' (to do) to create '주의하다' (to be cautious). It is a very stable word that does not change form, making it quite learner-friendly!

Fun Fact

The same characters are used for 'ideology' (e.g., 민주주의 - Democracy), showing how 'focusing the mind' evolved into 'a system of thought.'

Pronunciation Guide

UK ju-ui

Sounds like 'you-wee'

US ju-ui

Sounds like 'you-wee'

Common Errors

  • Merging the two 'u' sounds
  • Mispronouncing the 'ui' dipthong
  • Incorrect stress

Rhymes With

회의 지위 무위 학위 단위

Difficulty Rating

Lecture 2/5

Easy to read in context

Writing 2/5

Simple to use

Speaking 2/5

Commonly used

Écoute 2/5

Easy to hear

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

조심 하다 사항

Learn Next

경고 유의 신중

Avanc

민주주의 주의력

Grammar to Know

Noun + 하다

주의하다

Object Particle 를

주의를 기울이다

Adverbial form -게

주의 깊게

Examples by Level

1

주의하세요!

Be careful!

Imperative form

2

주의가 필요합니다.

Caution is needed.

Noun + particle

3

이것은 주의해야 해요.

You must be careful with this.

Verb pattern

4

주의 깊게 보세요.

Look carefully.

Adverbial phrase

5

주의 사항을 읽으세요.

Read the precautions.

Compound noun

6

그는 주의가 부족해요.

He lacks caution.

Noun phrase

7

주의를 주세요.

Give a warning.

Verb phrase

8

항상 주의하세요.

Always be careful.

Adverb usage

1

8 examples

1

8 examples

1

8 examples

1

8 examples

1

8 examples

Collocations courantes

주의를 기울이다
주의 사항
주의 깊게
주의를 주다
주의가 필요하다
주의를 환기하다
주의를 끌다
각별한 주의
주의 태만
주의 집중

Idioms & Expressions

"주의를 기울이다"

To pay close attention

발밑에 주의를 기울이세요.

neutral

"주의를 환기하다"

To draw attention to

회의에서 중요한 점에 주의를 환기했다.

formal

"주의를 끌다"

To attract attention

그의 빨간 옷이 주의를 끌었다.

neutral

"주의가 산만하다"

To be easily distracted

그 아이는 주의가 산만하다.

neutral

"주의를 주다"

To warn someone

경찰이 그에게 주의를 주었다.

neutral

"주의가 깊다"

To be careful/cautious

그는 매사에 주의가 깊다.

neutral

Easily Confused

주의 vs 조심

Both mean be careful

조심 is physical; 주의 is mental/formal

조심해 (Watch out!) vs 주의하세요 (Please pay attention).

주의 vs 경고

Both are warnings

경고 is a formal reprimand or alert

경고를 받았다 (Received a warning).

주의 vs 유의

Both mean pay attention

유의 is for details/instructions

유의사항 (Points to note).

주의 vs 신중

Both imply caution

신중 is for decision making

신중한 사람 (A cautious person).

Sentence Patterns

B1

Subject + 에 + 주의를 기울이다

그는 건강에 주의를 기울인다.

A2

주의 + 가 + 필요하다

이 상황은 주의가 필요하다.

A1

주의 + 사항

주의 사항을 확인하세요.

A2

주의 + 깊게 + Verb

주의 깊게 읽으세요.

A1

Subject + 가 + 주의하다

모두 주의하세요.

Famille de mots

Nouns

주의력 Attention span/ability to focus

Verbs

주의하다 To be careful/to pay attention

Adjectives

주의 깊은 Careful/attentive

Apparenté

조심 Synonym for physical caution

How to Use It

frequency

9/10

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual (rarely) N/A

Erreurs courantes

Using 주의 instead of 조심 in casual speech → 조심
주의 is more formal/abstract; 조심 is for immediate physical danger.
Forgetting the particle → 주의를 기울이다
It needs the object particle '를'.
Confusing 주의 with 주의 (ideology) → Contextual check
주의 also means '-ism' (like 민주주의).
Using it as a verb directly → 주의하다
주의 is a noun; you need '하다' to make it a verb.
Overusing it in casual settings → 조심해
주의 sounds like a formal sign or instruction.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace Trick

Visualize a 'Caution' sign at your front door.

💡

When Native Speakers Use It

In official warnings or when asking for intense focus.

🌍

Cultural Insight

It reflects the value of mindfulness.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Always look for '하다' after it.

💡

Say It Right

Practice the 'ui' sound slowly.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use it as a verb without '하다'.

💡

Did You Know?

It shares roots with '-ism' words.

💡

Study Smart

Read safety signs in Korean.

💡

Contextual Study

Learn it with '주의사항'.

💡

Frequency

It's one of the most common nouns.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine pouring (注) your brain (意) into a cup to stay focused.

Visual Association

A bright yellow 'Caution' sign.

Word Web

Safety Focus Warning Care

Défi

Try to say '주의하세요' whenever you see a warning sign today.

Origine du mot

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: Pouring (注) the mind (意)

Contexte culturel

None

Directly maps to 'Caution' or 'Attention' in signs.

Used in almost every safety manual in Korea

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At work

  • 주의 사항을 확인하세요
  • 안전에 주의하세요
  • 주의를 기울여 주세요

At school

  • 수업에 주의하세요
  • 주의가 산만해요
  • 주의 깊게 들으세요

Travel

  • 소지품 주의하세요
  • 미끄럼 주의
  • 주의 깊게 보세요

Daily life

  • 건강에 주의하세요
  • 항상 주의하세요
  • 주의가 필요해요

Conversation Starters

"요즘 건강에 주의하고 계신가요?"

"어떤 상황에서 가장 주의를 기울이시나요?"

"주의가 산만할 때는 어떻게 하시나요?"

"안전 주의 사항을 읽어본 적 있나요?"

"주의 깊게 관찰하는 습관이 있나요?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 하루 동안 주의를 기울였던 순간은?

주의가 산만해질 때 나만의 해결책은?

내가 생각하는 가장 중요한 주의 사항은?

주의 깊게 행동해서 사고를 막았던 경험은?

Questions fréquentes

8 questions

They are similar, but 주의 is more formal and used for abstract focus, while 조심 is for physical safety.

Use it with '하다' or as a noun with particles.

Yes, as a suffix (e.g., 민주주의).

Yes, but '조심해' is more common for children.

방심 (carelessness).

No, just watch the 'ui' sound.

When you need to warn someone or emphasize focus.

No, Korean nouns don't have plurals.

Teste-toi

fill blank A1

길을 건널 때 ___ 하세요.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 주의

You need to be careful when crossing the road.

multiple choice A2

What does '주의' mean?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Caution

It means caution.

true false B1

Is '주의' a verb?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Faux

It is a noun; you need '하다' to make it a verb.

match pairs B1

Word

Signification

All matched!

This is a common collocation.

sentence order B2

Touche les mots ci-dessous pour construire la phrase
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

수업에 주의를 기울이세요.

Score : /5

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