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. Which phrase is about health specifically?
3. Your friend is moving abroad. Which 'take care' fits?
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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