vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Take care" is a phrase which is often translated as "ten cuidado", and "be careful" is a phrase which is also often translated as "ten cuidado". Learn more about the difference between "take care" and "be careful" below.
take care(
teyk
kehr
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. ten cuidado (informal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Take care not to fall into the water.Ten cuidado de no caer al agua.
b. tenga cuidado (formal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Take care not to hit reply all when you send the email.Tenga cuidado de no darle al responder a todos cuando envíe el email.
a. cuídate (informal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
See you next week. Take care!Hasta la semana que viene. ¡Cuídate!
b. cuídese (formal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Good luck with your business trip and take care.Suerte con el viaje de negocios y cuídese.
a. tengan cuidado (plural)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
Take care not to trip and fall on the step.Tengan cuidado de no tropezar y caer en el escalón.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. tener cuidado
We need to take care we don't damage the wall when drilling.Tenemos que tener cuidado de no dañar la pared al taladrar.
b. asegurarse
They should take care to book their vacation through a reputable firm.Deberían asegurarse de reservar las vacaciones con una empresa reputada.
a. poner cuidado en
Sam always takes a lot of care over his homework.Sam siempre pone mucho cuidado en la tarea.
be careful(
bi
kehr
-
fuhl
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. ten cuidado (informal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
Be careful out there. The sidewalk is slippery.Ten cuidado afuera. Está resbalosa la acera.
b. tenga cuidado (formal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
Please be careful, madam. The streets aren't safe.Por favor tenga cuidado, señora. Las calles son peligrosas.
3. (imperative)
b. aguas (colloquial) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
Be careful with that necklace! It's very fragile.¡Aguas con ese collar! Es muy frágil.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. tener cuidado
Make sure to be careful with that platter. It's fine china and is very expensive.Asegúrate de tener cuidado con esa bandeja. Es de porcelana y es muy caro.
