8.6 To notice/realize

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Overview

Learn to express noticing or realizing something using 気がつく and 気づく, which both mean "to become aware of" and are used for physical perception as well as mental realization.

～にきがつく気がつく is used to express noticing, realizing, or becoming aware of something. It often describes a moment when something enters your awareness, either suddenly or after some time.

The core meaning is close to:

notice
realize
become aware of

Basic structure

Noun / clause + に + 気がつく

。

I noticed the mistake.

。

I realized that it was raining.

The particle に marks what you noticed.

This is commonly used for things you perceive or discover.

。

I noticed that my wallet was missing.

。

I noticed that the door was open.

～に気がつく is also used for mental realization, not just physical perception.

。

I realized that he was not coming.

。

I realized that the problem was there.

This often corresponds to “I realized that …” in English.

気づく vs 気がつく

きづく気づく and きがつく気がつく mean almost the same thing and they are interchangeable in most situations.

。

I noticed the mistake.

However, きがつく気がつく can also mean “to be attentive,” “be quick to notice.” In which case, only きがつく気がつく can be used.

Points to keep in mind

～に気がつく expresses noticing or realizing

Dialogue

けさ今朝、えき駅について着いてからていきけん定期券をわすれた忘れたことにきがつきました気がつきました。いそいで急いでいえ家にもどろう戻ろうとしましたが、でんしゃ電車のじかん時間がせまっていた迫っていたのであきらめました諦めました。かいさつ改札をとおる通るときに、さいふ財布におかねお金がすこし少ししかないことにもきづきました気づきました。かいしゃ会社について着いてから、めえるメールにおおきな大きなみすミスがあることにきがつきました気がつきました。すぐにじょうし上司にほうこく報告しましたが、きづく気づくのがすこし少しおそかったです遅かったです。ひるやすみ昼休み、ともだち友達のようす様子がふだん普段とちがう違うことにきがつきました気がつきました。きごう「どうしたのきごう？きごう」ときく聞くと、からだ体のちょうしがわるい調子が悪いとおしえて教えてくれました。もっとはやく早くきづいて気づいてあげればよかったとおもいました思いました。かえりみち帰り道、そら空がきれいなことにきづいて気づいて、しばらくたちどまりました立ち止まりました。ちいさな小さなことにきがつける気がつけるひと人でありたいとおもっています思っています。

This morning, after arriving at the station I noticed that I had forgotten my commuter pass. I tried to hurry home, but since the train time was approaching I gave up. When going through the ticket gate, I also noticed there was very little money in my wallet. After arriving at the company, I noticed there was a big mistake in an email. I reported it to my supervisor right away, but I was a little slow to notice. During the lunch break, I noticed that a friend seemed different from usual. When I asked, "What's wrong?", they told me they were not feeling well. I thought I should have noticed sooner. On the way home, I noticed the sky was beautiful and stopped for a moment. I want to be the kind of person who can notice small things.

8.5 Polite requests

8.7 Ease, difficulty, and excess

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