What does it mean word for word?
お大事に is a shortened version of o-daiji ni nasatte kudasai, which literally means "please treat yourself with care".
Which one should you use?
While お大事に is the standard short form, お大事にしてください covers a broader sense of concern and well-being, similar to "take care" in English. For a specifically informal way to wish someone a speedy recovery, you can use 早く良くなってね.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite and formal way to express a wish for someone's recovery, use お大事になさってください. If you are speaking to a superior or someone you do not know well, the polite form お大事にしてください is more appropriate.
How do you pronounce it?
odaiji ni
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using ganbatte to mean "get well soon". This can sound like you are telling a sick person to work harder through their illness.
Did you know?
- When visiting a sick person in a hospital, it is customary to bring a gift called お見舞い (omimai), which typically avoids lilies or potted plants because they symbolize prolonged illness or staying in one place.
- The word 'daiji' in お大事に literally means 'important thing', so the phrase is closer to telling someone 'Please treat your situation as something important'.
- The phrase お大事に is often used by shopkeepers or taxi drivers when a customer mentions they are feeling unwell.
Examples in context
- お大事に！早く良くなってね！Get better soon! Get well quickly!
- 早く良くなってね！元気になってください！Get better soon! Please take care and get well!
- お大事になさってください。早くお元気になられますように。Please take care and get well soon.
- ご自愛ください。お大事に。Please take care of yourself and get well soon.
- お大事に。O daiji ni.Get well soon.
- 風邪ですか？お大事に。Kaze desu ka? O daiji ni.Do you have a cold? Get well soon.
- 無理しないで、お大事に。Muri shinaide, o daiji ni.Don't overdo it, get well soon.
Example conversation
A coworker tells another coworker that he is leaving early due to a fever.
- 陽葵 Himari熱があるんですか？Netsu ga aru n desu ka?Do you have a fever?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、少しあります。Hai, sukoshi arimasu.Yes, I have a little.
- 陽葵 Himariお大事に、大翔さん。O daiji ni, Hiroto-san.Get well soon, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとうございます、陽葵さん。Arigatou gozaimasu, Himari-san.Thank you, Himari.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お大事に, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お大事に, CC BY-SA 4.0.
