(bǎo zhòng) - to take care of oneself, look after yourself in Mandarin
bǎozhòngTraditional: 保重
Translation
to take care of oneself, look after yourself
Word origin
From 保 (bǎo, to guard, to keep) and 重 (zhòng, heavy, important), literally to hold your own wellbeing as something weighty.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 保 (bǎo, to guard) + 重 (zhòng, important)
Stroke order
保
重
Examples
，。
Take care on the journey.
。
Please look after your health.
句。
All he said as he left was take care.
，。
It has turned cold, look after yourself.
，。
Take care, we will see each other again soon.
保重 (bǎo zhòng) is a parting word. You say it to somebody who is leaving, who is unwell, or who is going somewhere difficult, and it means look after yourself. 多保重 and 保重身体 are the two everyday forms.
The second character is zhòng, heavy, not chóng, again. It is the same 重 as in 重要, and the word only makes sense with that reading: treat yourself as important.
The trap is thinking it works like the English take care of, which takes an object. 保重 does not take one, and it is always about the listener's own health. To take care of somebody else you need 照顾, as in 照顾孩子.
Where this fits
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保重: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "保重" (to take care of oneself, look after yourself): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 51.