How to Say ‘Take care; be careful’ in Japanese
お気をつけて
o ki o tsuke te
[oh kee oh tsoo-keh teh]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a common friendly send-off from staff to travelers. It's warm and polite, but you would not usually say it to airport staff yourself.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Adds politeness to 気 in this expression.
どうぞお気をつけて。
Please take care.
気
ki
[kee]
care; attention
Literally means spirit or attention; in this phrase it means care.
お気をつけてお帰りください。
Please take care on your way home.
を
o
[oh]
object marker
Marks 気 as the thing being paid attention to in this set phrase.
足元に気をつけてください。
Please watch your step.
つけ
tsuke
[tsoo-keh]
attach; pay; be careful
The stem of つける; in this phrase it means to pay attention or be careful.
風邪に気をつけてください。
Please be careful not to catch a cold.
て
te
[teh]
and; te-form connector
Te-form ending used in expressions like お気をつけて.
お気をつけてお越しください。
Please take care when you come.
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