How to Say ‘Take care.’ in Japanese
お気をつけて。
o ki o tsuke te
[oh kee oh tsukeh teh]
💬 Usage Tip: [お気をつけて] is a shortened everyday version of [お気をつけてください]. Japanese often drops [ください] when the meaning is still clear, which makes it sound a little lighter and more natural.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to the expression, making it sound softer and more respectful.
おはお気をつけてを丁寧にします。
お makes お気をつけて more polite.
気
ki
[kee]
care; attention
気 means spirit, mind, or attention. In this phrase it refers to taking care or being cautious.
気はお気をつけてで注意の意味です。
気 in お気をつけて means attention or caution.
を
o
[oh]
object marker
を marks 気 as the thing being directed or applied in the phrase.
をはお気をつけてで気を示します。
を marks 気 in お気をつけて.
つけ
tsuke
[tsukeh]
attach; apply; take
From つける. In 気をつけて, it means to apply attention, or in natural English, be careful.
つけはお気をつけてで注意することです。
つけ in お気をつけて means to pay attention or be careful.
て
te
[teh]
te-form ending
This て makes the phrase a gentle request or friendly instruction: please take care.
てはお気をつけての終わりです。
て is the ending of お気をつけて.
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