お大事に
odaiji ni[o̞da̠iʑi ɲ̟i]
The Japanese phrase for 'take care of your health' is お大事に (odaiji ni).
お大事に is used specifically when someone is sick or injured. In these medical or recovery contexts, it functions as a way to say 'get well soon' or 'take care of yourself'.
What does it mean word for word?
お大事に is a shortened version of o-daiji ni nasatte kudasai. The word daiji means 'precious' or 'important', so the phrase literally implies treating one's condition or self with great care.
Which one should you use?
While the English 'take care' can be used as a general parting phrase, お大事に is almost exclusively reserved for someone who is unwell or has been injured.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the phrase more formal and complete, suitable for use with customers or superiors, you can add shite kudasai to the end, forming お大事にしてください.
Did you know?
- When a doctor or pharmacist says お大事に to a patient, the standard polite reply is ありがとうございます, meaning 'thank you'.
- The word 大事 can also mean 'a serious incident' or 'a big deal' in different contexts, changing the tone from 'precious' to 'troublesome'.
- While お大事に is the go-to for illness, if you want to tell someone to stay healthy in a general sense, you would use 体に気をつけて instead.
Examples in context
- あなたのご健康に気をつけてください。仕事が忙しい時は特に、しっかり休養をとることが重要です。Please take care of your health. It is especially important to get enough rest when you are busy with work.
- 最近、調子はどう？健康に気をつけてね。How have you been feeling lately? Take care of your health, okay?
- 風邪ですか？お大事に。kaze desu ka? odaiji ni.Do you have a cold? Please take care of yourself.
- お大事にしてくださいね。odaiji ni shite kudasai ne.Please take care of your health.
- 無理をしないで、お大事に。muri o shinaide, odaiji ni.Don't overwork yourself, take care.
Example conversation
陽葵 is leaving the office and sees 陽太 looking unwell.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さん、顔色が悪いですよ。yota-san, kaoiro ga warui desu yo.Yota, you look pale.
- 陽太 Yota少し熱があるみたいです。sukoshi netsu ga aru mitai desu.It seems I have a slight fever.
- 陽葵 Himariそれは大変ですね。お大事に。sore wa taihen desu ne. odaiji ni.That's too bad. Take care of yourself.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。お先に失礼します。arigatou gozaimasu. osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.Thank you. I'll be leaving now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お大事に, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
