気付きます（きづきます、kizuきmasu）
- to notice

The Japanese verb 気付きます (読み: きづきます, romanization: *kizukimasu*) generally translates to "to notice," "to realize," "to become aware of," or "to perceive" something. It implies a sudden or gradual understanding of something that wasn't previously known or considered. It's often used when you suddenly understand something or realize the significance of something. It is about becoming conscious of something that was previously unnoticed. It has a nuance of suddenly understanding or finding out something. ⚫︎ It can refer to physical sensations (like noticing a change in temperature) ⚫︎ Or abstract concepts (like realizing someone is unhappy). ⚫︎ The act of becoming aware can range from a subtle shift in understanding to a sudden epiphany. ⚫︎ The word emphasizes a shift from a state of unawareness to awareness.

⚫︎ 間違いに気付きました。 Translation: I noticed the mistake. ⚫︎ 彼女は彼の嘘に気付いた。 Translation: She realized his lie. ⚫︎ やっと問題の重要性に気付きました。 Translation: I finally realized the importance of the problem.

⚫︎ Use 気付きます when something comes to your attention, or when you understand something new. ⚫︎ Often used with the particle に to indicate what you are noticing or becoming aware of. For instance, 間違いに (to the mistake). ⚫︎ Suitable for both formal and informal situations, though the level of politeness will change depending on the verb conjugation. ⚫︎ Consider the context: Is the awareness a result of a gradual process or a sudden moment? 気付きます often leans towards the latter. ⚫︎ It is appropriate to use 気付きました as an answer in a situation where somebody asks you whether you noticed something or not.

⚫︎ The base form is 気付く (読み: きづく, romanization: *kizuku*). ⚫︎ 気付きます is the polite (masu-form) conjugation of 気付く. ⚫︎ Typically written with the kanji 気 (meaning "spirit," "mind," "energy") and the kanji 付 (meaning "to attach," "to adhere") ⚫︎ The okurigana (the hiragana following the kanji) is き, づ, and き in different conjugated forms.

⚫︎ 気づく (same meaning, but written in hiragana) ⚫︎ 分かる (*wakaru*) - to understand (more general, less emphasis on a sudden realization) ⚫︎ 知る (*shiru*) - to know, to learn (implies acquiring information, less about a sudden realization) ⚫︎ 意識する (*ishiki suru*) - to be conscious of, to be aware of (more formal)

⚫︎ 気づかない (*kidzukanai*) - to not notice, to be unaware ⚫︎ 見落とす (*miotosu*) - to overlook, to miss

彼は自分の過ちに気付かなかった。 ・Translation: He didn't notice his mistake. ・Explanation: This sentence uses the negative form 気付かなかった to show the opposite of noticing something. It implies that the person was unaware of his mistake.

急にそのことに気付きました。 ・Translation: I suddenly realized that. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 急に (suddenly) to emphasize the suddenness of the realization. It indicates a sudden shift in awareness.

The word 気付く is formed from the kanji 気, which refers to "mind", "spirit", or "feeling", and 付く, meaning "to attach", "to be connected", or "to adhere". Therefore, 気付く originally means to have your mind or awareness "attached" or "connected" to something. This concept has evolved to mean "to notice", "to realize", or "to become aware of" something. It represents the "attachment" of your mind to an idea, a concept, or a situation, leading to the act of recognizing it.