Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Notice" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "notice", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
お知らせ
おしらせ (oshirase)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
気が付く
きがつく (kigatsuku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "notice" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between お知らせ and 気が付く.
In Japanese, お知らせ (おしらせ (oshirase)) is typically associated with "notice, announcement, information" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Often used for public announcements, news, or general information, especially in written form.
On the other hand, 気が付く (きがつく (kigatsuku)) maps to "to notice, to realize, to become aware of" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Intransitive verb. Often used when something suddenly becomes apparent or one becomes conscious of something. 「〜に気が付く」の形で使われることが多いです。. A literal translation of "notice" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "お知らせ"
駅の掲示板に、遅延のお知らせがありました。
There was a delay announcement on the station bulletin board.
Bilingual Context for "気が付く"
電車の中で、財布がないことに気が付いた。
I realized I didn't have my wallet on the train.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "駅の掲示板に、遅延の ＿＿＿ がありました。" (Meaning: "There was a delay announcement on the station bulletin board.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "お知らせ" fits here because it means "notice, announcement, information" in the context of: "There was a delay announcement on the station bulletin board.". "気が付く" represents "to notice, to realize, to become aware of".