気遣い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 気遣い（きづかい） can express both thoughtful consideration for someone and concern about them.
• Basic usage: さりげない気遣い means unobtrusive consideration; 気遣いは無用です tells someone that there is no need to worry.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinguishing consideration from concern through context
  • In the first example, gratitude toward a neighbor points to consideration; in the second, a message about being late points to worry or concern. Fixing 気遣い to only one sense obscures this difference.
• The reading and a related expression
  • The reading is きづかい, which can be learned alongside 気を遣う. 気を遣う describes the action of being mindful of someone; 気遣い names the resulting consideration or concern.