건강하세요
geonganghaseyo
To say 'be healthy' in Korean, use 건강하세요 (geonganghaseyo).
The phrase is used to express a wish that someone remains in good health. It is commonly used as a parting wish or as a closing remark in letters and messages to express care for someone's well-being.
Which one should you use?
건강하세요 is a polite form used in most social settings, whereas 건강해 is an informal version used with close friends or people younger than you. For an informal way to say 'take care of your health' or 'stay healthy', you can use 건강하게 지내 or the similar phrase 건강하게 잘 지내, which adds the word 'well'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 건강하세요 uses the polite ending –세요, which makes it appropriate for speaking to elders or people you are not close with.
How do you pronounce it?
geonganghaseyo
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 건강하십시오 in an attempt to be more formal. 건강하세요 is the standard polite way to express this wish in most social settings.
Did you know?
- While 건강하세요 is widely used, some strict linguists argue it is grammatically incorrect because you cannot command someone to 'be' in a state of health. They suggest using 건강하시길 바랍니다, which means 'I hope you are healthy'.
- In Korea, wishing someone 건강하세요 during the summer often implies a suggestion to eat 'health-restoring foods' known as 보양식, such as samgyetang.
- When saying 건강하세요 to a superior, it is customary to accompany the phrase with a slight bow. Speaking the words without the gesture can sometimes feel incomplete or insufficiently respectful in traditional settings.
Examples in context
- 항상 건강하게 지내Always stay healthy.
- 다음에 또 보자. 건강하게 잘 지내Let's meet again next time. Take care of your health.
- 항상 건강하세요.hangsang geonganghaseyo.Please always be healthy.
- 올해는 꼭 건강하세요.olhaeneun kkok geonganghaseyo.Please be healthy this year for sure.
Example conversation
Minjun is saying goodbye to Seoyeon on a video call.
- 민준 Min-jun서연 씨, 조심히 들어가세요.Seoyeon ssi, josimhi deureogaseyo.Seoyeon, please get home safely.
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 민준 씨도 건강하세요.Ne, Minjun ssi-do geonganghaseyo.Yes, Minjun, please be healthy too.
- 민준 Min-jun감사합니다. 다음에 또 봐요.Gamsahamnida. daeume tto bwayo.Thank you. See you again next time.
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 다음에 만나요!Ne, daeume mannayo!Yes, see you next time!
