お大事に
odaiji ni[o̞da̠iʑi ɲ̟i]
In Japanese, the phrase for 'get well' is お大事に (odaiji ni).
This phrase is used specifically for someone who is sick or injured. It is not used for general well-wishes like 'take care' when someone is simply leaving a social gathering.
Meaning: to recover from illness or injury (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a shortened version of o-daiji ni nasatte kudasai. The word daiji means 'important' or 'precious', so the phrase literally implies 'treat yourself as something precious'.
Which one should you use?
お大事に is a standard way to say 'get well' often used as a standalone phrase when leaving a hospital or a person's home. The longer form どうかお大事になさってください is much more formal and respectful, whereas お大事にね is an informal version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite or formal tone, especially when speaking to a superior or an elder, use どうかお大事になさってください. The version お体をお大事に is a formal way to express concern for someone's health, meaning 'Take care of your body'. For informal situations, you can use お大事にね.
How do you pronounce it?
odaiji ni
Did you know?
- When giving an 'omimai' gift, it is a strict superstition to avoid giving potted plants. Since the verb for 'rooting' (根付く) can imply that a patient will 'root' or stay permanently in the hospital, it is seen as a curse.
- While お大事に is used when leaving a sick person, the person who is ill typically does not reply with 'thank you' (ありがとう), but instead uses すみません which means 'excuse me' or 'I am sorry'.
- The word 大事 ('daiji') can also mean 'a serious incident' or 'a big deal' in other contexts. This creates a linguistic contrast where the same word describes both a 'precious' life and a 'serious' problem.
Examples in context
- どうかお大事になさってください。I hope that you will get well soon.This sentence is useful for expressing the hope that someone will get well soon using the form お大事に.Tatoeba #1177930 by bunbuku, translation #17787 by CK
- お大事に。すぐに元気になってくださいね！Take care. Get well soon!
- お大事にね！ゆっくり休んで、また一緒に遊びましょう！Take care! Rest well, and let's hang out together again!
- それじゃ、お大事にしてね。Well then, take care.
- 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? Take care.
Example conversation
Ren is leaving the office early because he feels unwell.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮さん、具合が悪そうですね。Ren-san, guai ga warusou desu ne.Ren, you look unwell.
- 蓮 Renはい、少し熱があるみたいです。Hai, sukoshi netsu ga aru mitai desu.Yes, it seems I have a slight fever.
- 陽葵 Himari無理しないで、お大事に。Muri shinaide, o-daiji ni.Don't push yourself, get well.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お大事に, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
