A2 verb Neutral #1,500 most common 1 min read

小心

xiaoxin /ɕjɑʊ̯³⁵ ɕɪn⁵⁵/

Use '小心' to express caution and attentiveness in situations that require care.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Be careful and alert to avoid danger.
  • Used as a verb to warn or advise.
  • Common in daily life and safety contexts.

Overview

小心,读音为 xiǎo xīn,是一个非常常用的汉语词语,属于动词。它的核心意思是“提高警惕,谨慎行事”,旨在提醒人们在面对可能存在风险或需要细致处理的情况时,要多加注意,以免发生不测。这个词不仅表达一种状态,更是一种行动上的要求。在日常交流中,它经常被用来作为警告或建议。

小心主要用作动词,表示“采取谨慎的态度”或“注意”。它可以单独使用,也可以与其他词语组合成词组。常见的用法包括:

**与“一点儿”等连用**:表示程度的加深,如“你走路小心一点儿”。

小心这个词在多种场合都会出现:

  • 日常生活:提醒家人朋友注意安全,如“下雨天路滑,小心点!”、“小心火烛”。
  • 交通出行:在驾驶、过马路等情境下,强调安全第一,如“开车时要小心”。
  • 健康与安全:在处理热食、尖锐物品或可能致病的场所,需要小心,如“小心,这个盘子很烫”。
  • 人际交往:在与人打交道时,有时也需要“小心”,避免说错话或做错事,但这种用法相对较少,更多是强调“谨慎”。

与“小心”相似的词语有“注意”、“留意”、“谨慎”、“当心”等。

  • 注意 (zhù yì):比“小心”更广泛,可以指集中精神,也可以指关注某事物。“注意”不一定带有危险的含义,例如“请注意听讲”。
  • 留意 (liú yì):侧重于“不忽略”,保持关注,常用于需要记住或观察细节的场合,如“请留意我的邮件”。
  • 谨慎 (jǐn shèn):比“小心”更强调深思熟虑和稳重,通常用于更正式或重大的决策,带有褒义,如“他做事一向很谨慎”。
  • 当心 (dāng xīn):与“小心”非常接近,几乎可以互换使用,都表示警惕和避免危险,但“当心”有时语气更重一些,如“当心!有车!”。

Examples

1

小心,地很滑!

everyday

Be careful, the floor is slippery!

2

请小心驾驶,注意安全。

formal

Please drive carefully and pay attention to safety.

3

哎呀,小心你的手!别被刀割到了。

informal

Ouch, watch your hand! Don't get cut by the knife.

4

在进行化学实验时,操作人员必须十分小心。

academic

When conducting chemical experiments, operators must be extremely careful.

Common Collocations

小心驾驶 drive carefully
小心地滑 beware of slippery floor
小心烫 careful, it's hot
小心点 be careful

Common Phrases

小心点儿

Be a bit careful

小心驶得万年船

Carefulness ensures a long-lasting voyage (proverb: caution brings safety)

小心翼翼

very carefully; cautiously

Often Confused With

小心 vs 注意

'注意' (zhùyì) is broader and means 'to pay attention' or 'to notice'. It doesn't necessarily imply danger. '小心' (xiǎoxīn) specifically means 'to be careful' or 'to beware', emphasizing caution against potential harm.

小心 vs 谨慎

'谨慎' (jǐnshèn) implies prudence and carefulness, often in decision-making or planning, and carries a more formal and deliberate tone than '小心'.

Grammar Patterns

小心 + [verb phrase] 小心 + [noun phrase] 小心!

How to Use It

Usage Notes

This word is very common in everyday spoken Chinese. It can be used as a standalone exclamation or as part of a longer sentence. The tone can range from a gentle reminder to an urgent warning depending on the context and intonation.


Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '小心' with '注意'. Remember that '小心' is specifically about avoiding danger or mishaps, while '注意' is more general attention.

Tips

💡

Use '小心' for Safety

Employ '小心' when you want to alert someone to potential dangers or advise them to act with care.

⚠️

Don't Underestimate Risks

Always take warnings like '小心' seriously, especially in unfamiliar environments or when dealing with unknown situations.

🌍

Expressing Care Through Caution

In Chinese culture, reminding someone to '小心' is a common way to show care and concern for their well-being.

Word Origin

The character '小' means 'small', and '心' means 'heart' or 'mind'. Together, '小心' literally suggests being small-hearted or mindful, implying a careful and attentive state of mind.

Cultural Context

Expressing '小心' is a fundamental way to show concern for others' safety in Chinese culture. It's often said to children, elders, or anyone embarking on a potentially risky activity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small child ('小' - small) carefully ('心' - heart/mind) stepping over a puddle to avoid getting wet.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“小心”更侧重于避免危险或意外,带有警惕的意味。而“注意”的范围更广,可以指集中精力或关注某事,不一定涉及危险。

“小心”可以用在各种需要警惕的场合,比如提醒别人注意安全、避免烫伤、小心驾驶、保管好财物等。

“小心”后面可以跟动词短语,比如“小心开车”、“小心烫伤”;也可以跟名词,比如“小心你的包”。单独使用时,可以直接说“小心!”。

“小心”的语气通常是提醒、警告或建议,根据具体语境和说话人的语气,可以显得比较温和,也可以比较急促。

Test Yourself

fill blank

过马路时一定要______,看清楚来往车辆。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: a

句意是提醒过马路要谨慎,所以选择“小心”。

multiple choice

下列哪个词最能表达“小心”的意思?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: b

“谨慎”和“小心”都表示做事时考虑周到,避免差错和危险。

sentence building

请将“小心”、“烫”、“这个”、“很”组成一个句子。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: c

这是一个常见的提醒,表示某物温度很高,要小心接触。

Score: /3

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