Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 몸 조심하십시오 | mom josimhasipsio | formal, polite | |
| 몸조리 잘하십시오 | momjori jalhasipsio | formal, polite | |
| 몸 조심하세요 | mom josimhaseyo | [mo̞m t͡ɕo̞ɕʰimɦa̠sʰe̞jo] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | informal, polite |
| 몸조리 잘하세요 | momjori jalhaseyo | informal, polite | |
| 몸 조심해 | mom josimhae | intimate | |
| 몸조리 잘해 | momjori jalhae | intimate |
These expressions are used as a parting expression when you want the other person to stay safe or healthy. While the forms involving 몸 조심 focus on general safety and caution, forms using 몸조리 are specific to recovering from an illness or childbirth.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 몸 조심 literally means 'body caution' or 'be careful with your body'.
Which one should you use?
몸 조심 is used for general safety, whereas 몸조리 specifically refers to taking care of one's health or recovering from an illness or childbirth.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The forms vary by social relationship: 몸 조심하십시오 and 몸조리 잘하십시오 are formal and polite. 몸 조심하세요 and 몸조리 잘하세요 are informal and polite. Finally, 몸 조심해 and 몸조리 잘해 are intimate forms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 몸 조심해 is the casual/intimate version used with friends or people younger than you.
How do you pronounce it?
mom josimhasipsio
When do people say it?
You may also encounter other ways to express care: 잘 지내 means 'Live well' and is an informal way to say 'Take care', while 조심해 means 'Be careful' and is used informally to express concern. For a more formal sentiment, 건강하시고 조심하세요 means 'Please take care of your health and be careful'.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'take care' as a generic parting, using 몸 조심해 in Korea might sound like you are warning someone of an immediate, specific danger.
- The phrase 몸조리 shares its characters with the Hanja for 'cooking' or 'preparation', suggesting that taking care of one's health is akin to the careful preparation of a meal.
- The word 몸 (body) is so central to these expressions that Korean culture often expresses concern for a person's well-being by focusing on their physical form rather than their abstract state of mind.
Examples in context
- 겨울에 감기 걸리지 말고 몸 조심하세요.Don't get sick during the winter and take care.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the polite form 몸 조심하세요.
- 건강하시고 몸 조심하십시오.geon-gang-ha-si-go mom jo-sim-ha-sip-si-o.Please stay healthy and take care.
- 먼 길 가시니 몸 조심하십시오.meon gil ga-si-ni mom jo-sim-ha-sip-si-o.Please take care on your long journey.
Example conversation
Subin is saying goodbye to her boss, Jihun, at the airport.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 님, 조심히 다녀오십시오.Jihun nim, josimhi danyeoosipsio.Mr. Jihun, please have a safe trip.
- 지훈 Ji-hun고마워요, 수빈 씨도 잘 지내요.gomawoyo, Subin ssido jal jinaeyo.Thank you, Subin, you take care too.
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 타지에서 몸 조심하십시오.ne, tajieseo mom josimhasipsio.Yes, please take care of yourself while abroad.
- 지훈 Ji-hun그렇게 하겠습니다. 나중에 봐요.geureoke hagesseumnida. najunge bwayo.I will do that. See you later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “take care” translations and entries 몸 조심하세요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 몸, 몸 조심하세요, 몸조리, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
