に気(き)が付(つ)くTo notice (that), To realize (that)

Structure

Verb + こと⁽¹⁾ + に気(き)がつく
Noun + に気(き)がつく

⁽¹⁾ の

Details

About にきがつく

に気(き)が付(つ)く is a common expression that highlights when someone 'notices that (A)', or 'realizes that (A)'. 付(つ)く 'to be attached' is the intransitive form of 付(つ)ける 'to attach', meaning that it is something that happens by itself. The case marking particle に marks the 'location' to where your 気(き) (sometimes interpreted as 'attention') becomes attached.

This structure may be used after nouns, or verbs that have been nominalized with either の, or こと.

Fun Fact

There are many different translations for 気(き) in English. These can range from 'spirit', to 'attention', to 'will', or even 'consciousness'. However, perhaps one of the most accurate ways to translate 気(き), is 'presence of mind'. The 'location' to which your focus, attention, or perception is drawn, will always highlight your 気(き).

Examples

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何(なに)がないか気(き)がついたのだろうか。

I wonder if he has noticed what is missing.

今(いま)、お金(かね)を忘(わす)れたことに気(き)がついたばかりだ。

I just now noticed that I forgot my money.

自分(じぶん)のミスに気(き)がつきましたか。

Did you notice your mistake?

わぁ！気(き)がついたの？嬉(うれ)しい！

Woah! You noticed? I'm so happy!

今日(きょう)は母(はは)の誕生日(たんじょうび)だ！気(き)がついていなかった。

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

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Online
- (CLAUSEこと/NOUN)に気がつく
  「Learn Japanese」
- Master your 気
  Tae Kim

Offline
- Tobira
  Page 142
- [AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
  Page 93
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にきがつく – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

melonflavor
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
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
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!