Learn Chinese phrases to express concern for someone sick
With Covid-19 spreading across the world, many are anxious about the health of loved ones. Expressing care for them and others can help people get through these strange and difficult times. Here’s a variety of ways to say you’re worried about someone and their health, for a range different scenarios:
祝你早日康复 Wishing you a speedy recovery
This phrase is a useful catch-all for use any time someone is sick.
老板，我们祝您早日康复！
Lǎobǎn, wǒmen zhù nín zǎorì kāngfù!
Boss, we wish you a speedy recovery!
多喝热水 Drink more hot water
The classic Chinese remedy for seemingly all ailments: hot water. It seems strange to many in the West, but it’s often the first thing Chinese will mention if one is feeling ill. Though the medicinal benefits are dubious, the concern expressed through the phrase is real.
你是不是感冒了？你应该多喝热水啊!
Nǐ shìbushì gǎnmào le? Nǐ yīnggāi duō hē rè shuǐ a!
Do you have a cold? You should drink more hot water!
请多保重 Take care!
This relatively formal phrase is used when bidding farewell to someone and encouraging them to look after themselves.
大家请多保重，我很快就会和你们见面了!
Dàjiā qǐng duō bǎozhòng, wǒ hěn kuài jiù huì hé nǐmen jiànmiàn le!
Take care, everyone, I will meet you soon!
好好照顾自己 Take good care of yourself
This encourages someone to look after their well-being, physically and mentally.
你要好好照顾自己!
Nǐ yào hǎohao zhàogù zìjǐ!
You need to take care good care of yourself!
快点儿好起来/赶快好起来 Get well soon
This casual phrase is mostly used between close friends when one party isn’t feeling too well.
希望你赶快好起来!
Xīwàng nǐ gǎnkuài hǎo qǐlái!
Hope you get better soon!
早点睡/好好休息/多休息 Get some rest
Though each of these has slightly different translations, the essence of them is the same: get some shut-eye. It can be used when someone is ill or when someone has been working late, to show you care about their well-being.
这几天记得要早点儿睡觉。
Zhè jǐ tiān jìde yào zǎodiǎnr shuìjiào.
Remember to go to bed earlier these days.
注意保暖/多穿点儿/小心别着凉 Keep warm/Wear more clothes
When someone suffers from a cold, it’s often recommended that they keep warm to help the body heal. These two phrases express concern for the sick party.
最近天冷，记得多穿点儿衣服。
Zuìjìn tiān lěng, jìde duō chuān diǎnr yīfu.
It’s been cold recently, remember to wear more clothes.
William Tanza is TWOC's web manager. He interested in technology and finance. He's not much of a writer, but thanks to the TWOC editors, his pieces made it here.
