How to Say ‘Take care.’ in Japanese
気をつけて。
ki o tsuke te
[kee o tsoo-KEH teh]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Locals say this warmly when sending someone off, like a parting "go safely". A simple ありがとうございます "thank you very much" with a small bow is the natural reply.
Phrase Breakdown
気
ki
[kee]
care; attention
A word meaning attention or caution, often used in safety expressions.
気をつけてください。
Please be careful.
を
o
[o]
object marker
Indicates the object of a verb.
本を読みます。
I read a book.
つけ
tsuke
[tsoo-KEH]
to pay (attention); to apply
Stem of つける; with 気を it means to pay attention, i.e. be careful.
車に気をつけてください。
Please watch out for cars.
て
te
[teh]
te-form ending
Connects the action of waiting to the thanks that follows.
まってくれて、ありがとう。
Thank you for waiting.
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