조심하세요
josimhaseyo
In Korean, "be careful" is expressed as 조심하세요 (josimhaseyo).
This phrase is a warning used to tell someone to avoid danger or to be cautious. It can be applied to physical danger, such as telling someone to watch their step or to general caution, such as telling someone to be careful with their health.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ primarily by their level of politeness and social context: 조심하십시오 is highly formal, while 조심하세요 is the standard polite form. 조심해 is casual, and 조심하라 is an informal, forceful and commanding version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
조심하십시오 is a highly formal way to give a warning, often used in public announcements or by service staff. 조심하세요 is the standard polite imperative form used in most everyday social situations. 조심해 is the casual version used with close friends or people younger than you. 조심하라 is an informal, forceful and commanding way to say be careful.
How do you pronounce it?
josimhaseyo
Did you know?
- The root 조심 is a Sino-Korean word where 조 means 'to watch' and 심 means 'heart' or 'mind'.
- To tell someone to be careful with their words or behavior to avoid offending others, Koreans use the phrase 말조심하세요.
- When telling someone to be careful with their health, Koreans frequently use the word 감기 for 'cold', saying 감기 조심하세요 instead of a general health warning.
Examples in context
- 감기 걸리지 않도록 조심하세요.Be careful not to catch a cold.This sentence is useful for expressing the idea of being careful to avoid getting sick using 조심하세요.Tatoeba #8437670 by Eunhee, translation #473593 by CK
- 요리하실 때 조심하세요Be careful while cooking
- 길 건널 때 조심해Be careful while crossing the road
- 길이 미끄러우니 조심하세요.gil-i mil-keu-reo-u-ni jo-sim-ha-se-yo.The road is slippery, so be careful.
- 계단 내려갈 때 조심하세요.gye-dan nae-ryeo-gal ttae jo-sim-ha-se-yo.Be careful when walking down the stairs.
Example conversation
Subin warns Minjun about a wet floor in a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin민준 씨, 바닥이 젖어 있어요.Min-jun ssi, ba-dak-i jeot-eo is-seo-yo.Minjun, the floor is wet.
- 민준 Min-jun아, 정말요? 고마워요, 수빈 씨.A, jeong-mal-yo? Go-ma-wo-yo, Su-bin ssi.Oh, really? Thank you, Subin.
- 수빈 Su-bin넘어질 수 있으니 조심하세요.Neom-eo-jil su is-seu-ni jo-sim-ha-se-yo.You might fall, so be careful.
- 민준 Min-jun네, 알겠습니다.Ne, al-get-seum-ni-da.Yes, I understand.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
