無事でいてください
buji de ite kudasai
The English phrase "please stay safe" is expressed in Japanese as 無事でいてください (buji de ite kudasai).
無事でいてください is a wish expressed to someone to remain unharmed and out of danger. It is commonly used during natural disasters, pandemics or when someone is traveling through dangerous areas.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of buji (safety/being unharmed), de (a particle indicating state), ite (the te-form of the verb iru, meaning to be/exist) and kudasai (please). Literally, it means "please be in a state of safety".
Which one should you use?
While 無事でいてください is a direct request addressed to a person, the expression 無事でありますように is a more formal, prayer-like way to say "may you be safe", often used in written forms such as cards or letters.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can make the phrase informal by dropping kudasai from the end, resulting in 無事でいて.
How do you pronounce it?
buji de ite kudasai
Did you know?
- The prayer-like version buji de arimasu you ni is frequently seen on 'ema' wooden plaques at Shinto shrines, where people write their wishes for the safety of their families.
- While English speakers say 'stay safe' as a parting remark, Japanese speakers might find it slightly heavy or overly dramatic if used during a casual goodbye, unless there is an actual risk involved.
- The word buji is composed of two characters meaning 'no' and 'accident'. In Japanese, safety is conceptually framed as the absence of a negative event rather than the presence of a positive state.
Examples in context
- 台風が来るので、無事でいてください。Taifuu ga kuru node, buji de ite kudasai.A typhoon is coming, so please stay safe.
- 遠く離れていても、無事でいてください。Tooku hanarete ite mo, buji de ite kudasai.Even though we are far apart, please stay safe.
Example conversation
Yota is seeing Himari off before she travels to a dangerous area.
- 陽太 Yota気をつけて行ってね。Ki o tsukete itte ne.Take care on your way.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、大丈夫だよ。Arigatou, daijoubu dayo.Thanks, I'll be fine.
- 陽太 Yota心配だから、無事でいてください。Shinpai dakara, buji de ite kudasai.I'm worried, so please stay safe.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、陽太。また連絡するね。Un, Yota. Mata renraku suru ne.Yeah, Yota. I'll be in touch again.
