気【き】

The word き気 (き) literally means "spirit," "mind," or "feeling," and it appears in a vast number of compound expressions in Japanese. Rather than being used alone, き気 combines with verbs and particles to create idiomatic phrases that describe psychological states, intentions, moods, and dispositions. Mastering these expressions is essential for natural-sounding Japanese.

気がする – to have a feeling that

Used to express a vague intuition or hunch. It is followed by a clause describing what you sense.

気にする – to mind, to worry about

Means to be bothered by something or to let something weigh on your mind. Often used in the negative to tell someone not to worry.

気になる – to be on one's mind, to be curious about

Describes something that catches your attention or concerns you. Unlike きにする気にする, which implies a deliberate act of worrying, きになる気になる describes an involuntary state – something naturally draws your attention.

気がつく – to notice, to realize

Used when you become aware of something.

気をつける – to be careful

A very common expression meaning to pay attention or take care.

気に入る – to like, to take a liking to

Describes finding something to your liking.

気がある – to have interest (romantic or otherwise)

Can indicate romantic interest or general inclination.

気が済む – to feel satisfied, to be at peace

Used when something must be done before one can feel settled.

Other common expressions

• きがはやい気が早い – to be hasty or impatient - きがながい気が長い – to be patient - きがみじかい気が短い – to be short-tempered - きがおもい気が重い – to feel reluctant or heavy-hearted - きがきく気が利く – to be attentive or considerate - やるきやる気 – motivation, drive