Is it correct to say English like this?
By youless
@youless (112621)
Guangzhou, China
March 25, 2012 9:47am CST
Here we can often hear the bus will broadcast:"Please go to the rear door and mind your step." Namely you shall get off the bus in the back door and then be careful to it. This is a new usage of "mind" here for me. Is it correct to say English like this?
6 people like this
13 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
25 Mar 12
Yes. I would say it this way. Please go out the rear door and mind your step. The usage of mind is perfect!
3 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
26 Mar 12
There is a difference between English spoken in England and the English spoken here in the States.If a person is about to hit their head on something that is low hanging Here we say watch you head but in the U.K. they say mind your head. English is the hardest language to learn.
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
25 Mar 12
I do not know how to speak properly.
Since I am from Bulgaria and I must say right here I'm learning English in the beginning I was very hard but I got used to but I am so deep into things.
nice day!
3 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
25 Mar 12
You do pretty well with English, nezavisima, nevertheless. Though I don't know any Bulgarian and only a very little Russian, I suspect that Bulgarian has a similar usage of the word 'mind' (as a verb and as a noun).
Youless is Chinese and, although Chinese has many 'idiomatic' usages like this (and some even more bizarre to our Western ears), she has not come across this one before - perhaps you haven't either - but this is what makes language such a fascinating subject!
2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
25 Mar 12
Yes, "mind your step" or "mind the gap" (very often heard as an announcement on the London Underground trains when a station platform is on a curve and there is a gap between the carriage door and the platform) or similar usages are quite normal English.
"To mind" means 'to be aware of' or 'to remember' or 'to take care of' (as in 'child-minder' ... someone who takes care of children in your absence).
'Mind' is, of course, also a noun meaning various things pertaining to thinking ability. 'Of sound mind' (= sane) or 'has a good mind for [something]' (= able to comprehend a particular thing well) are also common usages.
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
26 Mar 12
The bus announcement is correct to use "Mind" in that sense..We have Child Minders who look after youngsters,and We use our mind to solve problems. Being mindful of something is concentrating on something important-that's probably the source of your announcement...as in "keep the step in mind as you leave!"
Unfortunately,English has many words that have different meanings in a different context..you just have to familiarise yourself with the context..
In comparison,I understand in learning Chinese the tone of the voice can change a word to something completely different..it's what makes language learning interesting!
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
26 Mar 12
It appears to be different between the US and the UK. Here we can say either "Watch your step" or "Mind your step". "Mind" in this context is considered a little more 'polite' or 'kindly' than "watch" (I don't know why, exactly, that is just the feeling I get when I compare how I react on hearing either).
"Watch" appears to be the commoner usage in the US, though I'm sure that most Americans would understand the meaning of both.
1 person likes this
@Kojigirl (188)
•
26 Mar 12
Yes, it is proper English. In London they tell you to 'Mind The Gap' when you leave the carriages of the Underground network. It is a condensed version of 'be mindful of' so it is telling you to pay attention. Mind your step is a very common saying in most English speaking countries. I hear it a lot, and sometimes even take notice, but often bash my head or trip over my feet.
We also use the expression 'Mind your manners' which is a direct attempt to keep the socially awkward from making silly mistakes in social gatherings. That one doesn't work well with me, either.
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
25 Mar 12
A more understandable term, and the one we would use here is "please watch your step." Mind is used more for things that aren't physical, such as "mind your manners, mind your own business." Of course sometimes one would say "waych your manners" but I've never heard someone say "watch your own business." Mind your manners, mind your own business, watch your step, watch where you're going, watch out for that bus, watch out for on-coming traffic. Make sense?
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
26 Mar 12
Hi youless,
I heard the usage of this word in announcements here (the capital of India) also. In Metro trains they are announcing which stop is coming 2-3 minutes before reaching the station , adding which side the doors will open then finally ending up with ‘please mind the gap’. (as the doors are opening and closing automatically they are alerting passengers to keep the gap from door).
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168856)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Mar 12
Sure it is. Have you read the definition of 'mind'? As a verb it means pay attention to. THis is one thing that is so interesting about the English language. Different languages mixed in too.
@evergreentree (51)
• Vietnam
28 Mar 12
The words in english have many various meanings based on the situation. I found the usuage of mentioned-above words in dictionary, mind/watch your step: be careful about how you behave or you will get in trouble. Maybe you can find the meaning of words in Cambridge Advanced.
1 person likes this
@Zer0Stats (1147)
• India
27 Mar 12
Now that sounds more like 'British standard' English.
1 person likes this
@euphoricsmash (3)
• United States
26 Mar 12
To mind is to be aware of, so when a bus driver broadcasts " Mind your step" he is saying " be aware of where you are stepping". It may also mean " be careful while exiting". English can be a very casual language with multiple ways of saying things so in short, yes it is correct.
1 person likes this