Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 10: 8/18

()()

To notice (that), To realize (that)

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb + こと(1) + ()つく
Noun + ()つく

(1)

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About にきがつく

()() is a common expression that highlights when someone 'notices that (A)', or 'realizes that (A)'. ()く 'to be attached' is the intransitive form of ()ける 'to attach', meaning that it is something that happens by itself. The case marking particle marks the 'location' to where your () (sometimes interpreted as 'attention') becomes attached.
This structure may be used before nouns, or verbs that have been nominalized with either , or こと.
  • ()()わせ場所(ばしょ)()から携帯(けいたい)(わす)れたこと()()
    I realized that I had forgotten my phone only after I arrived at the meeting place.
  • (いぬ)(えさ)あげていない()()
    I realized that I didn't feed my dog this morning.
  • (もう)スピードこっち()ている(くるま)()()
    I noticed that there was a car heading this direction at a crazy speed.
Fun Fact
There are many different translations for () in English. These can range from 'spirit', to 'attention', to 'will', or even 'consciousness'. However, perhaps one of the most accurate ways to translate (), is 'presence of mind'. The 'location' to which your focus, attention, or perception is drawn, will always highlight your ().

Examples

  • (かれ)(わたし)(あたら)しい(くつ)()がついくれた。

    He noticed my new shoes.

  • (いま)(かね)(わす)れたこと()がついばかり

    I just now noticed that I forgot my money.

  • 今日(きょう)(はは)誕生日(たんじょうび)()がついていなかった

    Today is Mom's birthday! I didn't notice.

  • 先生(せんせい)(はな)()わった(こと)()がついていなかったです

    I didn't realize that the teacher was done talking.

  • 自分(じぶん)ミスこと()がつきました

    Did you notice your mistake?

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にきがつく – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • melonflavor

    melonflavor

    About 6 months ago

    I was wondering the same thing. I was only familiar with 気づく prior to this lesson and there’s no mention of it on bunpro.

    Edit: I’m seeing now that 気づくis accepted as an alternative answer in reviews, so I guess that answers my question. I think it would be helpful if both forms were presented in the grammar point explanation though.

  • drakeling

    drakeling

    About 4 days ago

    Hello, I had a question regarding this grammar point. I found that one of the example sentences listed on the grammar point 以外 has the following sentence:

    そのこと以外気がついていなかった。

    How come they don’t use the に particle following 以外 like they teach us with the grammar structure for に気が付く ?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    About 3 days ago

    Hey @drakeling !

    Just like other particles in Japanese, the に can be omitted in certain situations, especially in a casual conversation like the example sentence!

    We have just reviewed this example sentence and because we do not teach に気が付く until lesson 10 and いがい is taught in lesson 5 of N4, we have changed this sentence to 彼は言われたこと以外何もしないよ。( He will not do anything other than what he is told.), which only include grammar points taught up to that point!

    Thank you for pointing this sentence out and I hope I answered your question!

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