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A2 verb #2,500 le plus courant 5 min de lecture

조심하다

To be careful; to watch out.

josimhada
At the A1 level, '조심하다' is learned as a simple imperative. It is primarily used to warn others about immediate physical dangers like cars (차), stairs (계단), or cold weather (감기). Students learn the basic '조심하세요' (Please be careful) form. The focus is on survival Korean and basic safety warnings. You might see it on signs or hear it from teachers and parents. It is a 'set phrase' at this level, used without much concern for complex grammar. The goal is simply to understand that when someone says this, you should look around and be alert.
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At the A2 level, learners begin to use '조심하다' with the object particle '을/를'. They can say '차를 조심하세요' (Be careful of cars) or '감기를 조심하세요' (Be careful of the cold). They also start using the '조심해서' form to connect it with other verbs, such as '조심해서 가세요' (Go carefully/safely). The context expands to include daily activities like cooking, walking at night, or handling fragile objects. Learners understand that this word is a way to show concern for others' well-being in social interactions.
At the B1 level, the usage of '조심하다' extends to more abstract concepts. Learners use it for social behavior, such as '말조심' (watching one's words) or '행동을 조심하다' (being careful with one's actions). They start using the '~지 않도록 조심하다' (be careful not to...) pattern, which allows for more complex sentences. They can also distinguish between '조심하다' and '주의하다' in most common contexts. The word is used to give advice and discuss safety measures in a workplace or school environment with more detail.
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At the B2 level, learners use '조심하다' in professional and nuanced social contexts. They understand its role in maintaining 'Kibun' (social harmony) by being careful not to offend others. They can use the word in the passive or causative sense indirectly and understand its derived forms like '조심성' (cautiousness/prudence). At this level, the learner can discuss the importance of being careful in financial investments, legal matters, or long-term planning. They are comfortable with various registers, from very formal to very casual.
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At the C1 level, '조심하다' is used with high-level Hanja synonyms and in idiomatic expressions. The learner understands the philosophical implications of 'controlling the heart' (操心). They can use the word in literary or academic writing to describe a character's internal state or a researcher's methodology. They recognize subtle nuances in phrases like '몸조심' (taking care of one's body/health, often used when someone is going away for a long time) and can use it in complex conditional sentences to discuss hypothetical risks.
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At the C2 level, the speaker has a near-native grasp of '조심하다'. They can use it in legal contexts (e.g., duty of care), philosophical debates about mindfulness, and high-level political discourse regarding diplomatic 'carefulness.' They are aware of the word's historical usage and its presence in classical literature. They can effortlessly switch between '조심하다', '유의하다', '경계하다', and '삼가다' to convey precise shades of meaning. They also understand the cultural weight of the word in the context of Korean Confucian values of self-restraint and modesty.
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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

조심하다 en 30 secondes

  • Core meaning: To be careful or watch out.
  • Hanja roots: 操 (control) + 心 (heart/mind).
  • Usage: Physical safety, social etiquette, health.
  • Key Pattern: [Object] + 을/를 조심하다.

The Korean verb 조심하다 (josim-hada) is a fundamental term that translates most directly to 'to be careful,' 'to watch out,' or 'to take care.' However, its linguistic roots offer a much deeper psychological perspective on the act of being cautious. The word is composed of the Hanja characters 操 (조 - jo), meaning 'to grasp, manage, or control,' and 心 (심 - sim), meaning 'heart, mind, or spirit.' Therefore, at its core, 조심하다 literally means 'to control one's mind.' This suggests that being careful in the Korean context is not just an external reaction to danger, but an internal state of mindfulness and self-regulation.

Etymological Root
Derived from 操心 (to manage the heart), implying that caution begins with internal focus.
Grammatical Category
It is an active verb, though it often describes a state of being or a continuous attitude.
Semantic Range
Covers physical safety, social etiquette, financial prudence, and health management.

"길을 건널 때는 항상 차를 조심해야 해요."

— Translation: You must always be careful of cars when crossing the street.

In daily life, this word is ubiquitous. It functions as a warning, a piece of advice, and even a warm expression of concern. When you tell someone to '조심하세요,' you aren't just telling them to avoid a specific hazard; you are wishing for their safety and well-being. It is a word that bridges the gap between a simple command and a social lubricant.

"말조심하세요. 벽에도 귀가 있어요."

— Translation: Be careful with your words. Even walls have ears.

Using 조심하다 correctly involves understanding its interaction with particles and its various conjugations. Most commonly, the thing you are being careful of is marked with the object particle 을/를. For example, '차를 조심하다' (be careful of cars) or '말을 조심하다' (be careful with words).

Common Pattern: ~지 않도록 조심하다
This pattern means 'to be careful not to [verb].' Example: '넘어지지 않도록 조심하세요' (Be careful not to fall).
Common Pattern: ~을/를 조심하다
Used for direct objects of caution. Example: '개조심' (Beware of dog - often seen on signs).

In terms of levels of formality, '조심해' is used with friends and children, '조심해요' is standard polite, and '조심하십시오' is used in formal announcements or military contexts. Interestingly, the word is often used in the imperative form because caution is frequently something we urge others to practice.

"계단이 미끄러우니 조심해서 내려오세요."

— Translation: The stairs are slippery, so please come down carefully.

You will encounter 조심하다 in almost every corner of Korean life. In public transportation, automated voices remind passengers to '발 빠짐 조심' (Watch your step) when exiting subways. In the workplace, safety posters scream '안전 조심' (Safety first/Be careful of safety). In domestic life, a mother might shout '불 조심해!' (Be careful with fire!) as a child helps in the kitchen.

"요즘 독감이 유행이니까 건강 조심하세요."

— Translation: Flu is going around these days, so take care of your health.

It is also a staple in Korean dramas and films, particularly in romantic contexts. A common trope involves one character telling another '밤길 조심해' (Be careful on your way home at night), which serves as a subtle way of showing affection and protective instinct. In historical dramas (Sageuk), you might hear '입 조심하거라' (Watch your mouth/tongue) when a character speaks out of turn against a superior.

Public Announcements
Subway stations, construction sites, and elevators.
Social Partings
Used as a 'goodbye' when someone is traveling or the weather is bad.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 조심하다 with 주의하다 (ju-ui-hada). While both translate to 'to be careful,' they have distinct nuances. 조심하다 is more about general behavior and avoiding danger through mindfulness. 주의하다 is more about 'paying attention' or 'concentrating' on something specific to avoid an error.

Mistake 1: Using it for 'Worry'
Don't confuse it with '걱정하다'. If you are worried about someone, use '걱정하다'. If you want them to be safe, use '조심하다'.
Mistake 2: Incorrect Particle Use
Learners often use '~에 조심하다'. While occasionally heard, the standard is '~을/를 조심하다'.

"(Wrong) 실수를 조심하세요."

— Correction: Use '실수하지 않도록 주의하세요' for mistakes in tasks.

Another mistake is using '조심하다' when '삼가다' (to refrain) is more appropriate. For example, in a library, '조심하다' might mean 'be careful not to drop books,' but '삼가다' would be used for 'refrain from talking.'

To enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words related to caution and mindfulness. 주의하다 is the closest synonym, often used in technical or formal instructions. 경계하다 means 'to be on guard' or 'to be vigilant,' often used in military or security contexts.

삼가다 (Sam-ga-da)
To refrain from or abstain from something (usually a behavior).
유의하다 (Yu-ui-hada)
To keep in mind or bear in mind (often used in academic or professional advice).
신중하다 (Sin-jung-hada)
To be prudent or cautious in decision-making.

"낯선 사람을 경계해야 합니다."

— Translation: You must be on guard against strangers.

Understanding these differences allows you to choose the right word for the right level of intensity. While '조심하다' is the 'all-purpose' word, '신중하다' suggests a deeper level of thoughtful consideration before acting.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

""

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

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Exemples par niveau

1

차 조심하세요.

Be careful of cars.

Basic imperative.

2

길 조심해.

Watch the road.

Informal 'Panmal'.

3

조심해서 가세요.

Go carefully.

Used as a parting greeting.

4

불 조심하세요.

Be careful with fire.

Common safety warning.

5

계단 조심!

Watch the stairs!

Noun + 조심 (shortened form).

6

개 조심하세요.

Beware of the dog.

Standard warning sign.

7

감기 조심하세요.

Be careful not to catch a cold.

Very common seasonal greeting.

8

조심해요!

Be careful!

Polite present tense.

1

음식이 뜨거우니까 조심하세요.

The food is hot, so be careful.

Reason (~니까) + command.

2

유리를 조심해서 닦으세요.

Clean the glass carefully.

Adverbial use (조심해서).

3

밤에는 길을 조심해야 해요.

You must be careful of the road at night.

Must (~해야 하다).

4

칼을 쓸 때는 조심하세요.

Be careful when using a knife.

When (~을 때).

5

넘어지지 않게 조심하세요.

Be careful not to fall.

So as not to (~지 않게).

6

지갑을 잃어버리지 않도록 조심하세요.

Be careful not to lose your wallet.

In order not to (~지 않도록).

7

낯선 사람을 조심해야 해요.

You should be careful of strangers.

Direct object with 를.

8

조심해서 운전하세요.

Drive carefully.

Compound verb phrase.

1

어른들 앞에서는 말을 조심해야 합니다.

You must be careful with your words in front of elders.

Social etiquette context.

2

비밀이 새나가지 않도록 조심하세요.

Be careful so that the secret doesn't leak out.

Abstract object (secret).

3

건강을 조심하지 않으면 병에 걸려요.

If you don't take care of your health, you'll get sick.

Conditional (~면).

4

그 사람은 입이 가벼우니 조심하세요.

That person has a big mouth, so be careful.

Idiomatic description of a person.

5

사기를 당하지 않도록 조심해야 합니다.

You must be careful not to be scammed.

Passive verb (당하다) inside the clause.

6

조심성 있게 행동하는 것이 중요해요.

It is important to act with caution.

Noun form (조심성).

7

투자할 때는 항상 조심해야 해요.

You should always be careful when investing.

Financial context.

8

그의 기분을 상하게 하지 않도록 조심했어요.

I was careful not to hurt his feelings.

Emotional caution.

1

언행을 조심하는 것은 사회생활의 기본이다.

Being careful with words and actions is the basis of social life.

Hanja word '언행' (words and deeds).

2

개인 정보가 유출되지 않도록 각별히 조심하십시오.

Please be extra careful so that personal information is not leaked.

Formal register with '각별히' (especially).

3

그는 매사에 조심스러운 성격이다.

He has a cautious personality in everything he does.

Adjective form '조심스럽다'.

4

상대방의 오해를 사지 않도록 조심해야 합니다.

You must be careful not to be misunderstood by the other party.

Idiom '오해를 사다' (to invite misunderstanding).

5

작은 실수 하나도 조심해야 하는 상황입니다.

It is a situation where you must be careful even of a single small mistake.

Emphasizing 'even a small...'.

6

그녀는 조심스럽게 문을 열고 들어왔다.

She cautiously opened the door and came in.

Adverbial usage.

7

주식 시장의 변동성을 조심해야 합니다.

One must be careful of the volatility of the stock market.

Professional terminology.

8

아이들이 다치지 않게 늘 조심하고 있어요.

I am always being careful so the children don't get hurt.

Continuous state (~고 있다).

1

공직자로서 처신을 조심해야 할 필요가 있다.

As a public official, there is a need to be careful in one's conduct.

Formal word '처신' (conduct).

2

그의 발언은 파장을 고려하여 매우 조심스럽게 이루어졌다.

His remarks were made very cautiously, considering the potential impact.

Complex sentence structure.

3

자칫하면 큰 사고로 이어질 수 있으니 조심을 기해야 한다.

Since it could lead to a major accident if one is not careful, caution must be exercised.

Phrase '조심을 기하다' (to exercise caution).

4

문장의 뉘앙스가 왜곡되지 않도록 조심해서 번역했다.

I translated carefully so that the nuance of the sentence would not be distorted.

Specific professional context.

5

군중 심리에 휩쓸리지 않도록 조심해야 한다.

One must be careful not to be swept away by mob psychology.

Psychological/Sociological context.

6

그는 조심성 없는 행동으로 구설수에 올랐다.

He became a subject of gossip due to his careless behavior.

Idiom '구설수에 오르다'.

7

역사적 사실을 다룰 때는 고증에 조심을 다해야 한다.

When dealing with historical facts, one must be extremely careful with historical research.

Academic context.

8

매사 불여튼튼이라니 항상 조심하는 것이 좋다.

As they say, 'better safe than sorry,' so it's always good to be careful.

Proverbial usage.

1

권력의 남용을 막기 위해 법적 절차의 정당성을 조심스럽게 검토해야 한다.

To prevent the abuse of power, the legitimacy of legal procedures must be carefully reviewed.

Legal/Political context.

2

인간 관계의 미묘한 균형을 깨뜨리지 않도록 조심하는 지혜가 필요하다.

The wisdom to be careful not to break the delicate balance of human relationships is needed.

Philosophical tone.

3

그 학설은 데이터의 오류 가능성 때문에 조심스럽게 받아들여지고 있다.

That theory is being accepted cautiously due to the possibility of data errors.

Scientific/Academic register.

4

외교적 결례를 범하지 않도록 언어 선택에 조심을 거듭했다.

Care was taken repeatedly in the choice of language to avoid diplomatic discourtesy.

High-level formal context.

5

예술가는 대중의 반응에 일희일비하지 않으면서도 시대의 흐름을 조심스럽게 읽어야 한다.

An artist should not be swayed by the public's reaction but should carefully read the trends of the times.

Literary/Critical context.

6

생명 윤리의 영역에서는 기술의 발전보다 가치의 보존을 더 조심해야 한다.

In the field of bioethics, the preservation of values must be more carefully guarded than the development of technology.

Ethical debate context.

7

그의 문체는 단어 하나하나를 조심스럽게 골라 쓴 흔적이 역력하다.

His writing style clearly shows traces of having carefully chosen every single word.

Literary analysis.

8

국가 안보와 직결된 사안이므로 정보 취급에 극도로 조심해야 한다.

As it is a matter directly related to national security, one must be extremely careful in handling information.

Security context.

Collocations courantes

차를 조심하다
말을 조심하다
몸을 조심하다
건강을 조심하다
불을 조심하다
입을 조심하다
발밑을 조심하다
낯선 사람을 조심하다
감기를 조심하다
행동을 조심하다

Phrases Courantes

조심해서 가세요

말조심해라

몸조심하세요

차 조심해

개 조심

불조심 강조 기간

조심조심 걷다

조심성 있는 사람

각별히 조심하다

항상 조심하다

Souvent confondu avec

조심하다 vs 주의하다 (Pay attention)

조심하다 vs 걱정하다 (To worry)

조심하다 vs 삼가다 (To refrain)

Expressions idiomatiques

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Facile à confondre

조심하다 vs 주의하다

More about focus and specific attention to detail.

조심하다 vs 경계하다

More about being on guard against an enemy or threat.

조심하다 vs 유의하다

More about keeping a rule or fact in mind.

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

Nuance

조심하다 implies a continuous state of mind.

Frequency

Extremely high in daily conversation.

Erreurs courantes
  • Saying '조심해요' to a much older person (use '조심하십시오').
  • Using '조심하다' for 'I am worried about you' (use '걱정돼요').
  • Forgetting the '을/를' particle in '차를 조심하다'.
  • Confusing '조심하다' with '준비하다' (to prepare).
  • Using '조심하다' when someone is already doing something well (it can sound like you don't trust them).

Astuces

Parting Gift

Always say '조심해서 가세요' when a guest leaves your house.

Particle Choice

Stick to 을/를 for the most natural sounding sentences.

Public Signs

Look for '조심' on yellow signs in Korea; they indicate hazards.

Winter Tip

Say '감기 조심하세요' to show you care about someone's health.

Urgency

Shout '조심해!' quickly if someone is in immediate danger.

Adverb Form

Use '조심스럽게' when describing a delicate action like holding a baby.

Hanja Power

Remember 'Sim' is heart to connect it to other words like 'Sim-ni' (psychology).

Respect

Being careful with words (말조심) is the best way to show respect to elders.

Subway Help

Listen for '발 빠짐 주의'—it's a synonym for '조심' in subways.

Workplace

Use '신중히 검토하겠습니다' (I will review cautiously) in business.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

Sino-Korean

Contexte culturel

Taking care of one's body (몸조심) is often linked to filial piety.

Being careful with words (말조심) is crucial in hierarchical relationships.

Korea has many public safety campaigns using '조심'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"요즘 감기가 유행인데 조심하고 계세요?"

"한국에서 운전할 때 뭘 가장 조심해야 할까요?"

"여행 갈 때 소매치기 조심하세요."

"밤에 혼자 다닐 때 조심해야 해요."

"말실수하지 않으려면 어떻게 조심해야 할까요?"

Sujets d'écriture

오늘 하루 중 가장 조심했던 순간은 언제인가요?

내가 평소에 가장 조심하는 것은 무엇인가요?

말조심을 못 해서 후회했던 경험이 있나요?

누군가 나에게 '조심해'라고 말했을 때 어떤 기분이 드나요?

건강을 위해 조심해야 할 습관 세 가지를 써보세요.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, '그 사람 조심해' means 'Be careful of that person' (they might be dangerous or untrustworthy).

It is a verb. The noun form is '조심'.

조심해 is general/physical; 주의해 is for focus/errors.

Use '조심하십시오' or '건강 유의하십시오'.

Yes, '몸조심하세요' is 'Take care of yourself'.

It's a noun phrase meaning 'Beware of dog'.

No, but '조심스럽다' can mean 'cautious' or 'hesitant'.

It's better to say '추위 조심하세요' (Be careful of the cold).

Yes, to avoid injuries: '부상 조심하세요'.

방심하다 (to let one's guard down).

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