돌봄
Care is the act of looking after someone or something to keep them safe and healthy.
Explanation at your level:
Care is a simple word. It means to help someone. If you have a pet, you care for it by giving it food. You show love to your family by giving them care. It is a very kind word to use.
You use care when you look after someone. For example, a doctor gives care to a sick person. You can also say 'take care' when you leave a friend. It means you want them to be safe.
In this level, you start using care in professional contexts. We talk about 'healthcare' or 'elderly care.' It is also used to express concern, such as 'I care about the environment.' It connects your feelings to your actions.
At this level, you understand the nuance of care. It can mean 'caution,' as in 'drive with care.' It is often used in compound nouns like 'self-care' or 'aftercare.' It shows a higher level of responsibility and attention to detail.
Care is used in complex social and political discussions. We discuss 'the care economy' or 'duty of care' in legal terms. It represents a fundamental human value. You might use it in academic writing to describe the ethical obligation one has toward others.
Historically, care evolved from 'sorrow' to 'solicitude.' In literary contexts, it can still carry the weight of 'worry' or 'anxiety,' as in 'the cares of the world.' It is a word that bridges the gap between emotional vulnerability and institutional responsibility.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Care means support.
- It is a verb and noun.
- Use 'take care' for goodbye.
- It implies empathy.
When we talk about care, we are usually talking about two things. First, it is the action of looking after someone, like a parent caring for a child or a nurse caring for a patient. It is about making sure someone has what they need to thrive.
Second, it is a feeling. When you say you care about something, it means you have a personal interest in it or you are worried about what happens to it. It is a very versatile word that connects our actions to our emotions.
The word care comes from the Old English word caru, which meant 'sorrow, anxiety, or grief.' Back then, it was quite a heavy word! It is related to Old High German kara, meaning 'lament' or 'wail.'
Over the centuries, the meaning shifted from a feeling of worry or sadness to a sense of responsibility and protection. By the 1500s, it began to imply the act of looking after something, which is how we use it most often today.
You will hear care used in many ways. In daily life, we say 'take care' as a friendly goodbye. In professional settings, we talk about 'healthcare' or 'childcare.' It is a very flexible word that fits into both casual chats and serious business meetings.
Common collocations include take care of, show care, and provide care. It is a neutral word that becomes warm when used with people and professional when used in medical or legal contexts.
1. Take care of business: To handle your responsibilities. 2. Couldn't care less: To not care at all. 3. Handle with care: To treat something gently. 4. In the care of: Under the protection of someone. 5. Take care: A common way to say goodbye.
As a noun, care is usually uncountable when referring to the general concept, but can be countable in specific phrases like 'take many cares upon oneself' (though this is rare). It rhymes with fair, bear, and share.
The pronunciation is /kɛər/ in both US and UK English. It is a single-syllable word that is stressed naturally as the only syllable in the word.
Fun Fact
It used to mean sadness before it meant help!
Pronunciation Guide
Rhymes with air.
Rhymes with air.
Common Errors
- mispronouncing the 'r'
- confusing with 'car'
- stressing the wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Phrasal Verbs
take care of
Uncountable Nouns
care
Imperative Mood
Take care!
Examples by Level
I care for my cat.
I look after my cat.
Verb usage.
Take care!
Goodbye!
Imperative.
She gives good care.
She is helpful.
Noun usage.
He likes care.
He likes being helped.
Simple noun.
Care for me.
Help me.
Imperative.
We show care.
We are kind.
Verb usage.
It is my care.
It is my duty.
Noun usage.
Give care now.
Help now.
Imperative.
Take care of your health.
The baby needs care.
She works in childcare.
Handle with care.
I care about you.
He has no care.
Show more care.
Thanks for your care.
The patient received excellent care.
Self-care is important.
I don't care about the price.
He took great care of the documents.
The school provides after-school care.
She is in the care of her aunt.
We must care for the planet.
Take care not to slip.
He has a duty of care to his employees.
The system is designed for long-term care.
She approached the task with great care.
It is a matter of public care.
They are under the care of a specialist.
I couldn't care less about his opinion.
The care taken in the design is evident.
He is a man without a care in the world.
The government is failing in its duty of care.
She spoke with a certain care for the truth.
The project requires careful management.
We must balance the care of the individual with the needs of the group.
His work shows a meticulous care for detail.
The institutional care system needs reform.
She has a natural care for others.
The care-worn expression on his face told a story.
The philosophical concept of 'care' is central to Heidegger.
He lived his life free from the cares of the world.
The nurse provided palliative care with grace.
The inherent care in her voice was soothing.
The legal framework for foster care is complex.
He approached the restoration with the care of an artist.
The burden of care fell upon her.
She was a woman of infinite care.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"take care of business"
handle responsibilities
I need to take care of business.
casual"couldn't care less"
don't care at all
I couldn't care less about the gossip.
casual"handle with care"
treat gently
These glasses are fragile, handle with care.
neutral"in the care of"
under someone's guard
The dog is in the care of my brother.
neutral"take care"
goodbye
See you later, take care!
casual"without a care in the world"
worry-free
He walked around without a care in the world.
neutralEasily Confused
similar sound
cure fixes illness, care supports
The doctor will cure the flu and provide care.
similar sound
carry is to lift, care is to support
I carry the bag with care.
similar sound
car is a vehicle
I drive my car with care.
similar sound
career is a job
She cares about her career.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + take + care + of + object
I take care of my plants.
Subject + care + about + object
I care about the world.
Subject + care + for + object
She cares for the elderly.
Handle + with + care
Handle this with care.
Duty + of + care
He has a duty of care.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
They have different meanings.
Care is a noun or verb.
The verb phrase needs 'of'.
Different meanings.
Don't say 'cares' unless talking about worries.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a hospital.
Native Speakers
Use it in goodbyes.
Kindness
It shows empathy.
Prepositions
Remember 'of' and 'for'.
Rhyming
Rhymes with air.
Don't pluralize
Avoid 'cares' for help.
Etymology
It meant sorrow.
Flashcards
Use phrases.
Professional
Use in healthcare.
Verb patterns
Care + about/for.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Care: C-A-R-E (Concern And Real Effort).
Visual Association
A nurse holding a patient's hand.
Word Web
Challenge
Use 'care' in three sentences today.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: sorrow, anxiety
Cultural Context
None, generally a positive word.
Used frequently in professional and personal life.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Medical
- patient care
- nursing care
- medical care
Social
- child care
- elderly care
- social care
Daily
- take care
- self care
- handle with care
Professional
- duty of care
- quality of care
- care standards
Conversation Starters
"Do you practice self-care?"
"Who takes care of your pets?"
"Do you think healthcare should be free?"
"How do you show care for friends?"
"What does 'duty of care' mean to you?"
Journal Prompts
Write about someone who takes care of you.
What does self-care look like for you?
Why is it important to care for others?
Describe a time you handled something with care.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsIt is both!
Say 'Take care'.
Taking care of your own health.
Only if you mean worries.
It works in both settings.
Someone who helps others.
It can imply love.
No, it is very common.
Test Yourself
I ___ for my dog.
Care is the correct verb.
What does 'take care' mean?
It is a closing phrase.
Care is always countable.
It is usually uncountable.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms.
Correct structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Care is the act of showing concern and providing support to those who need it.
- Care means support.
- It is a verb and noun.
- Use 'take care' for goodbye.
- It implies empathy.
Memory Palace
Imagine a hospital.
Native Speakers
Use it in goodbyes.
Kindness
It shows empathy.
Prepositions
Remember 'of' and 'for'.
Example
노인 돌봄 서비스가 필요합니다.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More family words
백일
A2100th day celebration (of a baby).
환갑
A260th birthday celebration.
칠순
A270th birthday celebration.
팔순
A280th birthday celebration.
알아주다
B1To recognize/understand (feelings); to acknowledge someone's thoughts or efforts.
입양아
A2Adopted child; a child legally taken into another family.
양녀
B1Adopted daughter.
입양
A2Adoption; legally taking another's child as one's own.
귀여워하다
A2To adore, to find cute, to cherish.
정답다
A2To be affectionate; to be friendly.
