Care vs I just worry about you

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Care

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

I just worry about you

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Care
 CareI just worry about you
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/keə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ker/"]/🇬🇧 //aɪ dʒʌst ˈwʌri əˈbaʊt juː//🇺🇸 //aɪ dʒʌst ˈwɜri əˈbaʊt ju//
Meaningto feel interest or concern about something or someoneI feel concerned for you.
ExampleShe shows great care for her pets.I just worry about you when you don't reply to my messages.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsgood, great, proper, take, deliver, provide (somebody with), services, centre/​center, facility, in care, in somebody’s care, under the care of, care of somebody, in care of somebody, the quality of care, extreme, good, great, exercise, take, need, with care, without careworry about someone, just worry about, worry about their safety
Antonymsdisregard, neglect, ignore-
Common mistakesConfusing with 'caring', which implies action rather than just feeling., Omitting 'about' when expressing concern (e.g., saying 'I care my family' instead of 'I care about my family').Confused with 'worry for you' instead of 'about you'., Using 'worry' in a positive context, instead of only indicating concern., Overusing the phrase in professional emails or formal contexts.
Usage notesUse 'care' to express concern or affection. It's suitable in most contexts but may sound too emotional in very formal situations.Use this phrase to express concern in casual conversations. It's appropriate among friends and family, but may be too informal in professional settings.

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Care
I just worry about you

Frequently asked questions: Care vs I just worry about you

What's the difference between Care and I just worry about you?

Care: to feel interest or concern about something or someone I just worry about you: I feel concerned for you.

Which is more common: Care and I just worry about you?

Care is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Care: She shows great care for her pets. I just worry about you: I just worry about you when you don't reply to my messages.

Can I use Care and I just worry about you interchangeably?

Not always. Care and I just worry about you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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