Cool MateBe kind to yourself vs Take care of yourself
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Be kind to yourself
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Take care of yourself
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Take care of yourself
| Be kind to yourself | Take care of yourself | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //biː kaɪnd tə jɔːˈsɛlf//🇺🇸 //bi kaɪnd tə jɔːrˈsɛlf// | 🇬🇧 //teɪk keə(r) əv jəˈsɛlf//🇺🇸 //teɪk kɛr əv jʊrˈsɛlf// |
| Meaning | Treat yourself well and gently. | Look after yourself and your health. |
| Example | After a long week, remember to be kind to yourself and take a day off. | Don't forget to take care of yourself during the busy season. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | be kind to others, practice kindness, show self-love, focus on self-care | take care of your mental health, take care of your body, always take care of yourself |
| Antonyms | - | neglect yourself, ignore your needs, disregard your well-being |
| Common mistakes | Using it in a sarcastic way, which changes its meaning., Not understanding that it encourages self-compassion., Confusing it with 'be nice to others', which has a different focus. | Omitting 'of' and saying 'take care yourself'., Using it in a formal context where something more affectionate is needed., Getting the order wrong, such as 'care of yourself take'. |
| Usage notes | This phrase is often used in self-care discussions or therapeutic contexts. It's appropriate for casual conversations about mental health. | Used when expressing concern for someone's well-being. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but can seem overly formal in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Be kind to yourself vs Take care of yourself
What's the difference between Be kind to yourself and Take care of yourself?
Be kind to yourself: Treat yourself well and gently. Take care of yourself: Look after yourself and your health.
Which is more common: Be kind to yourself and Take care of yourself?
Take care of yourself is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Be kind to yourself: After a long week, remember to be kind to yourself and take a day off. Take care of yourself: Don't forget to take care of yourself during the busy season.
Can I use Be kind to yourself and Take care of yourself interchangeably?
Not always. Be kind to yourself and Take care of yourself 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.