Chinese phrases

How to say be careful in Chinese

Be careful in Chinese is 小心 (xiǎo xīn). Shouted on its own it means “Watch out!”, and before a word it names the danger: 小心烫, “careful, it’s hot.”

小心

xiǎo xīn

be careful; watch out

Ways to say be careful

小心
xiǎo xīn
Everyday
be careful; watch out
For any danger: a step, a car, a hot dish. 小心点 sounds softer, like advice.
注意
zhù yì
Everyday
mind; pay attention to
Before the thing to watch: 注意脚下, “mind your step,” or 注意身体, “look after your health.”
当心
dāng xīn
Everyday
look out
Means the same as 小心. You also see it on warning signs: 当心触电, “danger: electric shock.”
慢点
màn diǎn
Everyday
slow down
To someone who rushes: a child who runs on the stairs, a friend who drives too fast. Parents say it all the time.
注意安全
zhù yì ān quán
Everyday
stay safe
Before a drive, a trip or a night out. You also see it on signs at building sites.
小心地滑
xiǎo xīn dì huá
Written
caution: wet floor
The yellow sign on wet floors in malls, stations and restrooms.

知道了
zhī dào le
I know
When a parent or a friend warns you. Said fast, it means “yes, yes, I know.”
好的
hǎo de
OK
Polite and neutral.
放心
fàng xīn
don’t worry, I will
To calm someone who worries about you.

Reading 地 as de on the wet-floor sign
In 小心地滑, 地 is dì, “the floor”: “careful, the floor is slippery.” Read as the particle de, it turns into “slide carefully,” the famous mistranslation.
Using 小心 for careful work
小心 is about avoiding an accident or harm. For careful, thorough work, say 仔细 or 认真: 仔细检查一下, “check it carefully,” and 认真做作业, “do your homework carefully.” 小心做作业 sounds odd, as if the homework could hurt you.

小笼包来了，小心烫！
xiǎo lóng bāo lái le, xiǎo xīn tàng
Waiter: Here are your soup dumplings. Careful, they’re hot!
哇，好香！
wā, hǎo xiāng
Leon: Wow, they smell great!
慢点吃，里面有汤。
màn diǎn chī, lǐ miàn yǒu tāng
Qiqi: Eat slowly, there’s soup inside.
好，我小心一点。
hǎo, wǒ xiǎo xīn yì diǎn
Leon: OK, I’ll be careful.