What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb 조심히 (carefully) and the verb 가세요 (please go).
Which one should you use?
While 조심히 가세요 focuses on the act of traveling carefully, other variations exist depending on the context. You might use 안전한 여행 되세요 to specifically say 'have a safe journey' in a formal manner, or 여행 잘 다녀오세요 to wish someone a good trip. For informal settings with friends, you can use 여행 잘 다녀와.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality in Korean changes based on who you are addressing. 조심히 가세요 is suitable for most everyday social interactions with strangers or acquaintances. For a highly formal professional setting or when addressing someone of much higher status, use 조심히 가십시오. If you are speaking to friends or people younger than you, you should use the informal 조심히 가. For someone slightly older, the slightly more polite informal phrase 여행 잘 다녀와요 is appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
조심히 가세요 uses the polite honorific ending -세요, making it suitable for most everyday social interactions with strangers or acquaintances.
How do you pronounce it?
josimhi gaseyo
Did you know?
- When someone tells you 조심히 가세요 as you leave, the standard polite response is not just 'thank you' but to wish them the same by saying 네, 조심히 들어가세요, which specifically means 'please enter (your home) safely'.
- The word 조심히 comes from 조심, which can be used as a standalone command. Shouting 조심! is the equivalent of yelling 'Watch out!' or 'Careful!' in English.
- If you are wishing someone a good trip, you might say 잘 다녀오세요, which literally means 'go and come back well'.
Examples in context
- 감사합니다. 안전한 여행 되세요.Thank you. Have a safe journey.
- 언니, 여행 잘 다녀와.Sister, have a good trip.
- 내일 조심히 가세요.nae-il jo-sim-hi ga-se-yo.Have a safe journey tomorrow.
- 공항까지 조심히 가세요.gong-hang-kka-ji jo-sim-hi ga-se-yo.Go safely to the airport.
Example conversation
Ji-eun is seeing Ji-hun off at the subway station.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 오늘 즐거웠어요.Ji-hun ssi, o-neul jeul-geo-wot-eo-yo.Ji-hun, I had a great time today.
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 저도 정말 즐거웠습니다.Ne, jeo-do jeong-mal jeul-geo-wot-seum-ni-da.Yes, I really enjoyed it too.
- 지은 Ji-eun집에 조심히 가세요.jib-e jo-sim-hi ga-se-yo.Have a safe journey home.
- 지훈 Ji-hun감사합니다, 지은 씨도 잘 쉬세요.gam-sa-ham-ni-da, Ji-eun ssi-do jal swi-se-yo.Thank you, Ji-eun, please rest well too.
