当心

• Pinyin: dāng xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 当 = facing, directing at; 心 = 心 (heart, mind)

Meaning

To be careful; to pay attention; to watch out. Used as a warning or instruction to exercise caution.

A common warning used in daily life, on safety signs, and in spoken instructions. Can be used as an imperative (Watch out!) or descriptively (be careful about something). Slightly more colloquial than 注意 but widely understood across registers.

Examples

1. 请当心脚下的台阶，雨天地面湿滑容易摔倒。 Please watch the steps underfoot; on rainy days the ground is slippery and it is easy to fall.
2. 他提醒同事当心这份合同中潜藏的不公平条款。 He reminded his colleague to watch out for the unfair terms hidden in this contract.
3. 在人流密集的场所，一定要当心随身携带的重要物品。 In crowded places, be sure to be careful with the important items you carry with you.

Usage Guide

Context: safety, daily life, warning

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 当心，前面有施工！(Watch out, there's construction ahead!)
• 出门要当心，别让陌生人轻易得到你的个人信息。(Be careful when you go out; don't let strangers easily obtain your personal information.)

Don't Say

• 我很当心这件事 — 当心 is not used as an adjective; say 我很谨慎 or 我对这件事很小心

Origin & History

当 (facing, keeping) + 心 (heart, mind) — keep your mind on guard

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal