건강하세요
geonganghaseyo
In Korean, "please stay healthy" is said as 건강하세요 (geonganghaseyo).
This phrase is a polite wish for someone to remain in good health. It is commonly used as a closing remark in letters, emails or at the end of a conversation to express well-wishes for the recipient's well-being. It can also be used when parting with someone, as in the phrase 안녕히 계세요. 건강히 지내세요, which means "Goodbye. Please stay healthy."
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, it means "be healthy".
Which one should you use?
While 건강하세요 is the standard polite form, 건강하시기를 바랍니다. is used when talking to someone you respect or want to show politeness towards. For a stronger sense of concern in formal settings, you might use 건강 유의하십시오, which means "Please take care of your health."
How do you pronounce it?
geonganghaseyo
Did you know?
- While you might use 건강하세요 to wish someone well, you should never use it as a command to a superior or much older person. In strict Korean etiquette, telling someone of higher status to 'be' something can sound like you are giving them an order.
- The word for health 건강 is a Sino-Korean word derived from Chinese characters. The first character 건 means 'strong' or 'sturdy' and 강 means 'strong' or 'powerful', doubling down on the idea of physical strength.
- Beyond general health, Korean uses 보건 for public hygiene and 양생 for the traditional practice of nourishing one's life to prevent sickness.
Examples in context
- 정희씨, 건강하시기를 바랍니다.Jeong-hui, please stay healthy.
- 건강 유의하십시오. 건강하게 지내세요.Please take care of your health. Please stay healthy.
- 올해는 꼭 건강하세요.ol-hae-neun kkok geon-gang-ha-se-yo.Please stay healthy this year.
- 항상 건강하세요.hang-sang geon-gang-ha-se-yo.Please always stay healthy.
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are saying goodbye after a meeting.
- 민준 Min-jun오늘 정말 즐거웠어요.oneul jeongmal jeulgeowosseoyo.I had a great time today.
- 서연 Seo-yeon저도 즐거웠어요, 민준 씨.jeodo jeulgeowosseoyo, Minjun ssi.I had a great time too, Minjun.
- 민준 Min-jun조심히 가시고 건강하세요.josimhi gasigo geonganghaseyo.Get home safely and please stay healthy.
- 서연 Seo-yeon감사합니다. 민준 씨도 건강하세요.gamsahamnida. Minjun ssi-do geonganghaseyo.Thank you. You stay healthy too, Minjun.
