What's the difference between "Beware" and "Be careful"?

Solution 1:

While the denotation of the two terms is very similar, the connotation is often quite different.

Beware is always a serious warning about something very dangerous.

Beware the Ides of March (there are guys out there with knives, and your name is engraved upon all of them)!

Be careful is a much more general advisory about exercising caution ranging from the ordinary to the extreme:

Be careful. Some of the paint may still be wet.

Be careful. The extraterrestrial flesh-eaters have landed and are looking for lunch!