What's the difference between 気を使う and 気にする?


What's the difference between 気を使う and 気にする?




～に気を使う (also written as 気を遣う) has a positive connotation. It means actively
paying attention to something/someone that actually matters. On the other
hand, ～を気にする is neutral, but can have a negative/passive connotation depending
on the context. It may mean you worry about something even though you don't
need to.

  * ～に気を使う: to care; to be mindful; to pay attention; to be attentive
  * ～を気にする: to worry; to be concerned; to be bothered

Note that you can both say {髪型/彼}を気にする and {髪型/彼}に気を使う.




～に気を使う (also written as 気を遣う) has a positive connotation. It means actively
paying attention to something/someone that actually matters. On the other
hand, ～を気にする is neutral, but can have a negative/passive connotation depending
on the context. It may mean you worry about something even though you don't
need to.

  * ～に気を使う: to care; to be mindful; to pay attention; to be attentive
  * ～を気にする: to worry; to be concerned; to be bothered

Note that you can both say {髪型/彼}を気にする and {髪型/彼}に気を使う.

