Usage note
小心表示注意安全，别大意。
xiǎo xīn biǎo shì zhù yì ān quán， bié dà yì。
Be careful means pay attention to safety and do not be careless.
Context note
小心常出现在提醒、警告和照顾动作里。
xiǎo xīn cháng chū xiàn zài tí xǐng 、 jǐng gào hé zhào gù dòng zuò lǐ。
Be careful often appears in reminders, warnings, and caring actions.
5 examples
小心一点。
xiǎo xīn yì diǎn。
Be careful.
过马路要小心。
guò mǎ lù yào xiǎo xīn。
Be careful when crossing the road.
请小心台阶。
qǐng xiǎo xīn tái jiē。
Please be careful of the steps.
小心别摔倒。
xiǎo xīn bié shuāi dǎo。
Be careful not to fall.
拿热水要小心。
ná rè shuǐ yào xiǎo xīn。
Be careful when holding hot water.
5 mini stories
妈妈提醒我走路时要小心台阶。
mā ma tí xǐng wǒ zǒu lù shí yào xiǎo xīn tái jiē。
Mom reminded me to be careful of the steps when walking.
外面路滑，大家都小心地走。
wài miàn lù huá， dà jiā dōu xiǎo xīn dì zǒu。
The road outside is slippery, and everyone walks carefully.
拿着热牛奶的时候要小心。
ná zhe rè niú nǎi de shí hòu yào xiǎo xīn。
Be careful when holding hot milk.
老师说过马路一定要小心。
lǎo shī shuō guò mǎ lù yí dìng yào xiǎo xīn。
The teacher said we must be careful when crossing the road.
我小心地把瓶子放在桌上。
wǒ xiǎo xīn dì bǎ píng zi fàng zài zhuō shàng。
I carefully placed the bottle on the table.
Mini dialogue
过马路
A
小心，有自行车过来。
Xiǎoxīn, yǒu zìxíngchē guòlái.
Be careful, a bicycle is coming.
B
谢谢你提醒我。
Xièxiè nǐ tíxǐng wǒ.
Thank you for warning me.
端水
A
小心，水很烫。
Xiǎoxīn, shuǐ hěn tàng.
Be careful, the water is very hot.
B
好的，我会慢慢走。
Hǎo de, wǒ huì màn man zǒu.
Okay, I will walk slowly.
Related words and contrasts
similar
注意
zhù yì
pay attention
To be attentive or watchful, similar to being careful.
similar
当心
dāng xīn
watch out
A warning to be cautious, often used for immediate danger.
related
安全
ān quán
safety
The state of being safe, which being careful helps achieve.