조심해!
josimhae!
The English phrase "watch out" can be translated into Korean as 조심해! (josimhae!)
The phrase is used to tell someone to proceed with caution. You can use the casual form 조심해 to say "watch out" or "be careful." For a polite way to say "watch out" or "be cautious," you can use 주의하세요. To express "please be careful" or "watch out" in a formal setting, use 조심하세요. If you want to emphasize the need for vigilance, such as saying "Please always be careful," you can add 항상 before the phrase, as in 항상 조심하세요.
Meaning: proceed with caution (intj)
Which one should you use?
In contrast, 조심하세요 is the polite form used with strangers or superiors. Additionally, 조심해라 is a more forceful, commanding way to say "watch out," often used by elders to younger people or in written instructions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form of 조심해 is 조심하세요. When speaking about yourself, such as saying "I am being careful," the verb form should be changed to 조심해요, as in 저는 조심해요.
How do you pronounce it?
josimhae!
Did you know?
- The word 조심 comes from Chinese characters meaning 'to follow' and 'heart'. Literally, it suggests that you should let your heart lead you to be cautious.
- When Koreans tell a traveler 조심해서 가세요, they are not warning them of a specific danger, but rather saying 'go safely' as a polite way to say goodbye.
- If you are shouting 'Watch out!' because of a sudden, immediate danger like a falling object, you might use the exclamation 위험해! (wi-heom-hae), which literally means 'It is danger!'
Examples in context
- 조심해!Watch out!This sentence is useful for expressing the exclamation "Watch out!" using the form 조심해!Tatoeba #3709077 by Queserasera, translation #375828 by megamanenm
- 파도 신호에 주의하세요.Watch out for the wave signals.
- 제가 항상 주의할 거예요.I will always be careful.
- 길을 건널 때 조심하세요Please be careful when crossing the street
- 길이 미끄러우니까 조심해!gil-i mil-kkeu-reo-u-ni-kka jo-sim-hae!The road is slippery, so watch out!
- 계단 내려갈 때 조심해!gye-dan nae-ryeo-gal ttae jo-sim-hae!Watch out when you go down the stairs!
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are walking in a park.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈아, 저기 돌이 있으니까 조심해!Subin-a, jeo-gi dol-i it-seu-ni-kka jo-sim-hae!Subin, watch out, there's a rock over there!
- 수빈 Su-bin고마워, 도현아. 거의 안 보였어.go-ma-wo, Do-hyun-a. geo-ui an bo-yeot-seo.Thanks, Dohyun. I almost didn't see it.
- 도현 Do-hyeon발밑을 잘 보고 걸어야 해.bal-mit-eul jal bo-go geol-eo-ya hae.You should watch where you step.
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 이제 괜찮아.eung, i-je gwaen-chan-a.Yeah, I'm fine now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “watch out” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
