How to Say "Be careful" in Korean | Korean Expression

Quick Answer: "Be careful" in Korean is "조심해요." (josimhaeyo.). Level: A1.

Learn how to say "Be careful" in Korean: "조심해요.". A simple and natural Korean sentence perfect for beginners.

Category: 인사

What does "Be careful" mean in Korean?

The Korean sentence "조심해요." translates to "Be careful." in English. At the A1-A2 level, "조심해요." is an excellent sentence to memorize. Every word serves a purpose, and the overall meaning — "be careful" — comes through clearly.

Pronunciation guide: josimhaeyo.

Korean Sentence Structure Breakdown

Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order, which is different from English (SVO). In "조심해요.", the verb comes at the end of the sentence. Here is the word-by-word breakdown: • 조심해요 (josimhaeyo)

The best way to internalize Korean word order is to build sentences piece by piece: start with the verb, then add the object, then the subject.

Why This Korean Expression Sounds Natural

This Korean version sounds natural because it uses the most common speech level (-요 form). Korean has seven speech levels, and this one strikes the perfect balance between formal and casual.

Cultural Insight

한국의 인사는 단순한 말이 아니라, 상대의 안부를 살피는 작은 의식이에요. '안녕하세요'는 문자 그대로 '평안하신가요?'라는 뜻입니다.

Examples

조심해요. — josimhaeyo. — Be careful.

조심해요? — josimhaeyo? — Be careful?

저녁에 조심해요. — jeonyeoke josimhaeyo. — In the evening, be careful.

Quiz

How do you say "Be careful" in Korean?

The correct Korean translation is "조심해요.". josimhaeyo.