6 Ways to Say Take Care in Korean
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can pick the right way to say “Take Care” in Korean depending on whether someone is leaving, sick, or traveling.
10-second answer
How do you say how to say take care in Korean?
There is no single "take care" in Korean — the phrase depends on why you're saying it. Someone heading home: 조심히 가세요 (josimhi gaseyo, "go carefully"). Someone sick or stressed: 몸조심하세요 (momjosimhaseyo, "look after your health"). Someone you won't see for a while: 잘 지내요 (jal jinaeyo, "be well"). All three drop to casual forms with friends (조심히 가, 몸조심해, 잘 지내 — josimhi ga, momjosimhae, jal jinae). Pick by situation first, then the politeness level: 반말 vs 존댓말 (banmal vs jondaemal).
Quick check — did that land?
1. A friend is heading home after dinner. What do you say?
Korean has no single take care.
The Full Spectrum
| Phrase | Formality | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 조심히 가세요 (josimhi gaseyo) | Polite | Someone is leaving — the everyday 'get home safe', said constantly |
| 조심히 가 (josimhi ga) | Casual (반말) | Same, to friends and younger people |
| 몸조심하세요 (momjosimhaseyo) | Polite | Health — someone's sick, tired, or heading into a hard stretch |
| 건강 조심하세요 (geongang josimhaseyo) | Polite, slightly warmer | Same meaning, common in texts to parents and elders, and around flu season |
| 잘 지내요 / 잘 지내 (jal jinaeyo / jal jinae) | Polite / casual | A goodbye that will last — moving away, end of a trip, 'be well' |
| 수고하세요 (sugohaseyo) | Polite | Leaving someone who's still working — 'take care' in the sense of 'keep at it' — see 수고했어 |
See also: 10 Ways to Say Goodbye in Korean
The One Rule That Matters Most
Korean makes you say what you're worried about. 조심히 ("carefully") is about the journey home, 몸 ("body") is about health, 잘 지내 ("live well") is about the time apart. Translating "take care" as a blanket phrase produces mismatches — telling a healthy friend 몸조심해 as they walk to the bus sounds like you know something about their health that they don't. When in doubt at a normal goodbye, 조심히 가세요 is the safe one; it's what shop staff, coworkers, and parents all say.
Who's leaving decides 가세요 vs 계세요
Same logic as 안녕히 가세요 vs 계세요: 조심히 가세요 is for the person going. If you're the one leaving, there's no 조심히 계세요 — you say 안녕히 계세요 or just 갈게요.
Quick Examples
늦었네요. 조심히 가세요!
neujeonneyo. josimhi gaseyo!
It's late. Get home safe!
The default parting line after dinner, a meeting, anything.
요즘 감기 유행이니까 건강 조심하세요.
yojeum gamgi yuhaeng-inikka geongang josimhaseyo.
There's a cold going around, so take care of yourself.
Health version with a reason attached — very typical in messages to parents.
미국 가서도 잘 지내. 연락하고!
miguk gaseodo jal jinae. yeollakago!
Take care over in the States. Keep in touch!
잘 지내 for a long separation; 연락하고 ('stay in contact') is the usual add-on.
저 먼저 갈게요. 수고하세요.
jeo meonjeo galgeyo. sugohaseyo.
I'm heading out first. Take care (keep up the good work).
Leaving the office while others stay — 수고하세요 does the 'take care' job here.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — 몸조심해 as an everyday goodbye
It implies concern about health. For a normal parting use 조심히 가(세요).
Mistake #2 — 잘 지내 when you'll see them tomorrow
잘 지내 assumes time apart. Coworkers you'll see in the morning get 내일 봐요 or 수고하세요 instead.
Mini Quiz
2 short questions — about 1 minute
2. Which phrase is about health specifically?
3. Your friend is moving abroad. Which 'take care' fits?
Part of Korean Greetings & Everyday Politeness — The Survival Set
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
6 Ways to Say See You Later in Korean
Take care and see you later are usually said in the same breath — the timing words (이따 vs 다음에) are next.
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