Use 気になる when something catches your attention or concerns you.
The idea
The thing on your mind usually takes が before 気になる. Context determines curiosity, worry or irritation. An indirect question ending in か can precede it. なる conjugates as 気になります, 気になりました and 気になりません.
| Dictionary form | Polite non-past | Polite past | Polite negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 気になる | 気になります | 気になりました | 気になりません |
Examples
- 新しいカフェのメニューが気になります。I am curious about the menu at the new café.
- 明日の天気が気になります。I am concerned about tomorrow’s weather.
- 隣の部屋の音が気になります。The noise in the next room bothers me.
- その映画の結末が気になりました。I became curious about how that film ends.
- 小さな間違いは気になりません。Small mistakes do not bother me.
- 彼がどうして来なかったのか気になります。I wonder why he did not come.
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Watch out
It does not always mean worry: a menu can arouse curiosity. 気にする emphasizes actively minding something.
Try it yourself
明日の天気＿気になります。（が／を）
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が
が marks the weather as what is on your mind.
映画の結末が気に＿ので、調べました。（なりました／なりませんでした）
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なりました
なりました is the polite past: the ending aroused curiosity.
音は気に＿。（なります→なりません）
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なりません
なりません is the polite negative: the noise does not bother the speaker.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
明日の天気＿気になります。（が／を）
映画の結末が気に＿ので、調べました。（なりました／なりませんでした）
音は気に＿。（なります→なりません）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe something that interests you and something that bothers you, using が and polite forms.